234 INTRODUCTION. 
composed of immature ova, polygonal cells with a germi- 
nal vesicle and macula. 
The sides of the oviduct are soft, and in great measure 
composed of a tissue consisting of large, polygonal cells, 
with from one to five small, round nuclei. 
The organ denominated genital bladder, from its open- 
ing into the vagina, or at the termination of the latter, 
and in Vaginulus from its belonging almost -wholly to the 
female organs, must be considered rather as a portion of 
the female apparatus than a prostatic sac, as it is called 
by Owen. By many authors, this has been termed the 
spermatheca, from its supposed function of holding sperm- 
atic fluid received from the male organs ; and with some 
reason ; for in several instances I have found it to contain 
a tenacious mass, which upon microscopic analysis was 
found to be composed of spermatozoa. This cannot, how- 
ever, be considered wholly as its use ; for it secretes a 
mucoid matter, which may probably facilitate the passage 
of the ova through the vagina and cloaca. The mucoid 
matter within the bladder is frequently found to contain 
immense numbers of an infusorial parasite, which I have 
described under the name of Cryptoicus. 1 
The epithelium of the bladder consists of very long, 
caudate, columnar cells, with elliptical, granular nuclei, 
and a small, round nucleolus. 
' Joum. Acad. Nat. Sci. N. S. Vol. I. 
