520 THE FEMALE ORGANS OF THE INDIAN ELEPHANT. [NoV. 20, 



tlie condition of a fibrous cord ; and thirdly, the two orifices of the 

 canals of Gaertiier, wliich were situated on either side of the os 

 vaginae, and therefore occupied the same position as in the specimen 

 which I formerly described. 



The examination of the female organs of the Indian Elephant 

 just described shows that we have not as yet arrived at an under- 

 standing of the normal configuration of these parts, and of the 

 variations which they manifest in different specimens of the same 

 species. In some, as in the specimens described by Stukeley, Hunter, 

 Mayer, Miall and Grreenwood, the corpus uteri was single, and the 

 uterine septum fell short of the mouth of the uterus ; while in at 

 least one other, that described by myself in the Transactions of this 

 Society, the uterus was divided into two compartments by a perfect 

 septum uteri, which extended from end to end of that organ. 



In some specimens, as in those described by Stukeley^ Hunter^, 

 Owen% Miall and Greenwood, as well as in that formerly described 

 by myself, a secondary vagina was clearly differentiated from the 

 uterus in front, and from the urogenital canal behind ; while in at least 

 one other, that described by Mayer, the secondary vagina was not 

 distinguishable as a distinct structure, but apparently formed part of 

 the uterus. In some, as in the specimen just described, as well as 

 in those described by Mayer, Hunter, and Owen, there was not the 

 slightest trace of a vaginal septum ; in others, such as that formerly 

 described by myself in the Transactions of this Society, the vagina 

 was divided from end to end by a complete septum : while in that 

 described by Miall and Greenwood, and probably in that figured 

 by Stukeley, the vaginal septum was represented by a fibrous cord 

 wliich, stretching across the mouth of the vagina, divided that orifice 

 into two. 



In some specimens, as in that just described, and in those of Mayer, 

 Hunter, and Owen, there were four separate orifices which communi- 

 cated with the commencement of the urogenital canal, namely those 

 of the single os vaginae, of the urethra, and of the two canals of 

 G-aertner ; while in the specimen examined on a previous occasion 

 by myself, as well as in that examined by Miall and Greenwood, the 

 single OS vaginae was divided into two parts by the posterior ex- 

 tremity of the vaginal septum. 



In the last-named specimens therefore there were five apertures 

 which communicated with the urogenital canal, namely the two 

 ora vaginae, the orifices of the two canals of Gaertner, and the orifice 

 of the urethra. 



Further research is necessary to enable us to explain and re- 

 concile the variations in structure of the female organs which are met 

 with in different specimens of the Indian Elephant ; and it is to be 

 hoped that those who have an opportunity of investigating the 

 structure of this animal will not lose sight of the fact that much 



^ ' On the Spleen, to which is added some Anatomical Observations on the 

 Dissection of an Elephant.' London, 1723, p. 104. 

 * ' Essays and Observations,' vol. ii. p. 175. 

 ^ ' Anatomy of Vertebrates,' vol. iii. p. 692. 



