1006 



INSECTIVORA. 



wholly distinct. The clitoris, (fig. 455, c,) 

 which is of considerable length, and very much 

 resembles the penis of the male, is pierced for 

 the passage of the urine, and thus constitutes 

 a true urinary penis. Beyond this is a trans- 

 verse slit of a slightly crescentic form, (jig. 

 455, 2), which constitutes the opening of the 

 vagina. There are none of those duplicatures 

 of the integument which in other Mammalia 

 constitute the labia and m/mptue, but the skin 

 is smooth. But one of the most curious 

 points in the structure of these parts is that 

 in the virgin state this vaginal aperture does 

 not exist, (jig. 455, 1,) the skin being per- 

 fectly and tightly drawn over the entrance ; so 

 that there are in this state but two openings, the 

 urethral and the intestinal. So perfectly is this 

 the case that it is very difficult to know a virgin 

 female mole from the male by mere external 



examination. As this covering is so tense, the 

 utility of the little bone at the extremity of the 

 penis in the male is very obvious, and its 

 pointed and tapering form is at once accounted 

 for : it is clearly intended to perforate this tense 

 covering to the vagina. 



Another peculiarity in this animal is that the 

 abdominal cavity being extended greatly be- 

 yond the pelvis, the vagina, the rectum, and 

 the urinary passage terminate considerably fur- 

 ther back than in other animals. The opening 

 of the rectum is opposite to the articulation of 

 the fourth with the fifth caudal vertebra. 



The uterus is of considerable size in the mole, 

 and its cornua much convoluted. 



For BIBLIOGRAPHY, see that of MAMMALIA. 

 (T. Bell.) 



