NOTE-BOOK OF A NATUEALIST. 167 



and semi-transparency of its integument, adhered iirmly 

 to the point of the nipple, breathed strongly but slowly, 

 and moved its fore-legs when it was disturbed. Its little 

 body was bent upon the abdomen, its short tail tucked 

 in between its hind-legs ; and these legs, destined if it 

 had lived to be so gigantically developed, and to execute 

 such enormous bounds, were one-third shorter than the 

 fore-legs ; but the three divisions of the toes were distinct. 

 Its whole length from the nose to the end of the tail, 

 when stretched out, did not exceed one inch and two 

 lines. 



The Professor was aware that the Hunterian dissec- 

 tions, which may be seen in the preparations exhibited 

 in the noble museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of 

 England, as well as the observations of Mr. Morgan and 

 Mr. Collie, concurred in disproving the theory of a 

 vascular mode of connexion between the mammary foetus 

 and the nipple : but as Geoffrey St. Hilaire had stated 

 that a discharge of blood accompanies marsupial birth, 

 or the detachment of the foetus from the nipple. Pro- 

 fessor Owen determined not to neglect the opportunity 

 thus offered, and, on the 9th of October, separated the 

 infant creature from the organ that bound it to life. 



The following reasons urged him to this act. First, it 

 would decide the nature of the connexion between the 

 foetus and the nipple. Secondly, it promised to afford 

 the means of ascertaining the mammary secretion at this 

 period. Thirdly, it might show whether so small a foetus 

 would manifest the powers of a voluntary agent in 

 regaining the nipple ; and, lastly, the actions of the 

 mother to* effect the same purpose would probably be 

 brought under notice. 



When the foetus, which retained a firm hold of the 

 nipple, wais detached, a small drop of whitish fluid, or 

 serous milk, appeared on the point of the nipple, which 

 had entered the mouth about half a line. This ex- 



