DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. 117 



to the fize of a cherry, and occupies the great- 

 eft part of the ovarium. This hody confifts of 

 feveral angular lobes, the polition of which is 

 very irregular, and it is covered with a coat or 

 membrane inierfperfed with nerves and blood- 

 vefl'els. The form and appearance of this yel- 

 low body varies confiderabiy at different times. 

 When it exceeds not the fize of a grain of 

 millet, it is roundilh, and its fubftance, when 

 cut, has a warty appearance. We often find aa 

 external covering' round the veficles of the o- 

 varia, which confifts of the fame fubftance with 

 the yellow bodies. 



When the yellow body has become nearly of 

 the fize of a pea, it refembles a pear ; and, in the 

 centre of it, there is a fmall cavity filled with 

 liquor. The fame thing may he remarked when 

 it is as large as a cheiry. In fome of thefe 

 yellow bodies, after they have arrived at full 

 maturity, Malpighius afhrms that he faw, to- 

 wards the centre, a fmall egg with its appen- 

 dages, about the fize of a millet feed ; and, after 

 they had difchargcd thefe eggs, they were flaccid 

 and empty. They then relembled a cavernous 

 canal ; and the void cavities were as large as 

 peas. lie conceived that Nature defigned tiiis 

 yellow glandulous body for the prefervation of 

 the egg, and for making it efcape from the te- 

 fticles ; and ihat, perhaps, it contributed to the 

 formation of the egg ; confcquently, he remarks, 

 the veficles which are at all times found in the 



H 3 ovarium, 



