Ilermapliroditt'fim <Sci\ in Testudo orj^ca. ] 21:* 



II. Histology. 



Tortoise A. — Sections of each of the gonads of this speci- 

 men were prepared and examined. Unfortunately the 

 material was not fixed immediately after death, the alimentary 

 canal and vascular system overlying the genitalia ventrally 

 having been first dissected and examined in detail. On 

 microscopic examination of the sections the material showed 

 somewhat poor fixation, as was to be expected under the 

 circumstances. Delafiek?s hajmatoxylin or iron-haematoxylin 

 was used for staining, together with eosin or acid fuchsin. 

 A few transverse sections of a portion across the end of the 

 anterior third of the right gonad were made, and longitudinal 

 sections of the whole of the rest of this gonad were cut. 

 Testicular seminiferous canals and developing spermatozoa 

 were seen in all the sections, but no developing ova could be 

 made out with certainty. In longitudinal section the tissue 

 was seen to be denser in the anterior part of this right 

 gonad than in the posterior portion. 



The left gonad was carefully sectionized longitudinally, as 

 it showed on its ventral surface an apparent q^^. This latter 

 was, in section, found to be an ovum, the nucleus and yolk 

 being seen (Pi. VI. fig. 3, n. & t/.). Slightly anterior 

 and dorsal to this ovum, and so within the substance of the 

 left gonad, another was found developing, after examining a 

 series of sections. Further, a few groups of bodies resembling 

 developing "■ ovarian ova '' were seen scattered in separate 

 groups (follicles) among otherwise testicular tissue, more 

 especially near the periphery of the anterior portion of the 

 gonad (PL VI. fig. 4, ov.). The rest of this organ 

 consisted of seminiferous canals, connective-tissue stroma, and 

 a few blood-vessels. I very much regret that circumstances 

 do not permit of my giving a longer and more detailed account 

 of the histology of the left gonad, owing to unavoidable delay 

 in fixation. 



The oviducts were lined internally by a glandular epi- 

 thelium, as is normally the case in the female, the walls being 

 highly muscular. 



Tortoise D. — The right gonad was carefully fixed in corrosive 

 sublimate and acetic acid, and sectionized. The left gonad 

 was teased up. In neither case were any traces of ova found, 

 only seminiferous canals and developing spermatozoa. The 

 fact of mature spermatozoa being found in the right rudi- 

 mentary oviduct directly after death has been already 

 mentioned. These oviducts, the lumen of each of which was 

 in some parts very narrow but continuous, were lined by a 

 glandular epithelium, thougli the walls were thin. 



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