Reptilia. 99 



13. Just posterior to the bile sac is the spherical, reddish 

 spleen. 



14. Closely following the spleen is the pale, roundish pancreas ; 

 the duct by which its secretion is conveyed to the intestine is hard 

 to find. 



15. Clear away any masses of fat that may hide organs in the 

 posterior part of the body, and expose the intestine from the 

 stomach to the anal opening. 



1 6. The enlargement of the intestine near its termination is 

 the cloaca. Again inflate the stomach ; does this also inflate the 

 intestine? 



1 7. If the specimen is a female, there may be found, in the 

 posterior part of the body, the whitish ovaries, with a row of white 

 eggs ; from the ovary, the oviduct, a slender pinkish tube, extends 

 back to enter the cloaca. Are the ovaries of the two sides opposite 

 each other? Slit into one of the oviducts near the cloaca; insert 

 a bristle and find where it enters the cloaca. 



1 8. In the male the white spermaries have similar positions. 

 Their ducts are called sperm ducts. 



19. Farther back than the ovaries are the dark red, elongated 

 kidneys. Describe them. Trace their ducts, the ureters, to the 

 cloaca. 



20. Count the ribs of one side. 



21. Draw the points of the forceps quickly along the muscles 

 over the ribs; note the shortening of the muscles that follow; 

 such action of the muscles is wholly involuntary (as the brain now 

 has no connection with the body), and is called reflex action of the 

 spinal cord. It is the same kind of action as that seen in the case 

 of a chicken with its head cut off. 



PREPARATION OF A SNAKE SKIN. 



After finishing the dissection according to the above directions, 

 completely remove the skin, retaining only the skull. Thoroughly 

 rub the inside with arsenic. Make a wooden body, around 

 which wrap a little cotton, and sew up as neatly as possible. Try 



