15 



loose in the abdomen in some Glires were here developed in an ex. 

 traordinary degree, measuring 5 inches in length, from 1 to Ij 

 inch in breadth, and giving off long conical processes likę the ap- 

 pendices epiploicce from the huraan great intestine. The testes in the 

 Batrachia, it may be remarked, have siinihu appendages. The vasa 

 deferentia continue slightly tortuous till they reach the veskulce semi- 

 nales, along the mesial aspect of vvhich they pass down to the neck of 

 thė bladder, and teiminate separately at the commencement of the 

 urethra : they giadually enlarge, but are not suddenly dilated at their 

 extremities. 



" The vesicuIcE seminales are thin membranous bags, with a white 

 glistening exterior, of an elongated form,.and give oflF, on one side 

 principally, from fifteen to t\verity obtuse bliiid processes, vvhich are 

 more easily unravelled than in Man. The whole length of the vesicle 

 in its natūrai statė was 2 inches 3 lines. It becomes gradually 

 smaller at the lovver estreinity, and forms what may be termed a duot 

 of 10 lines in length. The prostate gland, as in other Rodeniia, takes 

 the form of accessory vesicula,heing composed of a number of distinct 

 tubes, which are compacted togelher by cellular texture, and form, in 

 this species, four principai masses or lobes. The component tubes 

 are flattened, thin, and easily torn, grow smaller towards the urethra, 

 and ultimately join so as to terminate by a few small orifices. 



"The manner in \vhich the spermatic fluid and the accessory se- 

 cretions from the above tubular glands enter the urethra difFers from 

 what is generally observed in the Mammalia, but, as far as I have ob- 

 served, with some slight modifications, is common to the Glires. The 

 urethra at its commencement forms a small cul-de-sac behind the neck 

 of the bladder ; so that on laying open this part, together with the 

 urethra anteriorly, the orifice of the bladder is seen to be separated 

 from the canal of the urethra by a transverse ridge. Behind this 

 ridge, at the distance of 4 lines from the orifice of the bladder, 

 there projected a middle rounded process or veruinontanum, I5 

 line in length, on each side of vvhich vvas a cavity, in vvhich termi- 

 nated separately the orifices of the vas deferens, vesicula seminalis, and 

 accessory vesicles. A vvhite coagulated substance vvas found project- 

 ing a fevv lines from the duct of the vesicula seminalis. In the Acouchy 

 an amber-coloured substance, with a resinous fracture, vvas impacted 

 in the duct of the vesicula seminalis, and projected in a similar man- 

 ner into the urethra. Daubenton has noticed a similar circumstance 

 in the Agouti. 



" The membranous part of the urethra is 15 lines in length j it 

 is closely embraced by a thick stratum of muscular fibres, disposed in 

 a penniform manner from a middle posterior raphe. The true acce- 

 leratores surround the bulb of the urethra, vvhich is large. The crura 

 penis are embraced by short and strong erectores. This organ is also 

 provided with small levatores arising from the syjtiphysis pubis,b\xt ter- 

 minating in a single tendon vvhich runs along the dorsum penis, follovv- 

 ing the curvature, vvhere it is bent backvvards, and inserted in an 

 elongated flatfened bone vvhich lies above the glans, This bone is 8 



