524 FEMALE UROGENITAL ORGANS IN THE MARSUPIALIA, 



distance into the cavity of the vagina and at whose apex the two 

 ora are situated. 



The median vaginal apparatus in Tarsipes consists of a single 

 short canal, without any trace of division into two. In front 

 the median vagina (tig. 6, m.v.c.) possesses a fairly large lumen, 

 but it rapidly narrows behind and passes back as a dorso-ventrally 

 compressed canal, which directly opens at its hinder end into the 

 anterior extremity of the urogenital sinus (fig. 8, m.v.c). It lies 

 in the hinder part of its extent in the connective tissue of the 

 urogenital strand, between the two lateral vaginal canals above 

 and the urethra below (figs. 7 and 8, m.v.c). Tarsvpes thus 

 agrees, as I pointed out in Contribution I., with certain species 

 of the family Macropodicke in the possession of a direct and, after 

 the first partui'ition, permanently open median passage for the 

 birth of the young. In the second set of organs at my disposal, 

 the direct communication is also present, from which fact I 

 conclude from analogy with Macropods that this female had also 

 bred at some previous time. From the anterior end of the 

 median vagina there arise the lateral vaginal canals. These 

 have a quite short free course and are only very slightly curved 

 outwards around the inpassing ureters. Immediately below the 

 level of the latter, the vaginal canals approximate and eventually 

 run back parallel with each other and side by side dorsally to the 

 median vagina (figs. 7 and 8, l.vag.c). The bladder unites with 

 the ventral aspect of the median vagina shortly behind the 

 anterior end of the latter, and after receiving the ureters rapidly 

 contracts to form the urethra, which passes back in the common 

 mass of connective tissue, ventrally to the median vagina (fig. 7, 

 ureth.). The median vagina opens by a narrow, longitudinal 

 slit-like opening into the anterior end of the urogenital sinus, 

 while shortly behind this the two lateral vaginae open into each 

 other and at the same time also communicate with the sinus. 

 The latter is of considerable length, with a longitudinally ridged 

 lining. At its posterior end, ventrally, is the clitoris, attached 

 throughout its length and deeply grooved dorsally, but devoid of 



