TEE MALE GENITAL ORGANS. 857 



In all species, the descent of the testicle commences before birth : in the 

 BovidaB it is even achieved in the early months of intra-uterine existence. 

 In Solipeds, however, the testicle most frequently remains in the inguinal 

 canal until the animal is from six to ten months old. 



Fig. 399. 



THE INTERNAL GENITO-URINARY ORGANS, WITH THE STOMACH, LIVER, AND SPLEEK, 

 IN THE FCETUS OF A MARE. 



R, Left kidney ; v, Bladder ; T, Testicle ; at, Spermatic artery ; G, Gubernaculum 

 testis ; e, Epididymus the letter is placed in the centre of the serous layer which 

 suspends the testicle and spermatic vessels from the sublumbar region, and after 

 the descent of the gland, forms tlie fraenum between the two layers in the vaginal 

 sheath ; E, Stomach ; F, Liver ; /, Lobus Spigelii ; P, Vena porta? ; C, Umbilical 

 cord ; o, Umbilical vein ; o', Intrahepatic course of that vein, indicated by a double 

 dotted line. 



FUNCTION. The testicles secrete the spermatic (or seminal) fluid. Pure 

 semen, such as is derived from these glands, is a white, viscid, odorless, 



