FEMALE ORGANS OF THE PEOBOSCIDEA. 115 



horizontal peritoneal septum, the posterior margin of which is attached to and conti- 

 nuous with the posterior wall of the sac, whilst its anterior margin is free. The two 

 compartments are of very unequal size, the upper or dorsal being much smaller than 

 the lower or ventral. The former accommodates the ovary, whilst into the upper and 

 internal angle of the latter (as shown in fig. 2, PI. XXII.) opens the fimbriated extremity 

 of the Fallopian tube. The separation of the ovary by means of this septum from the 

 Fallopian tube would appear to necessitate certain alterations in the form of the sac at 

 the period of ovulation, so as to permit of the passage of the ova from the upper to the 

 mouth of the oviduct in the lower compartment. The. means by which this is effected 

 are certainly obscure ; but it is possible that the numerous bundles of muscular fibres 

 which form an open meshed reticulum in the walls of the ovarial sac may be adapted 

 to the attainment of this object. The morsus diaboli is completely surrounded by a 

 thick belt of well-developed fimbriae, which, however, are of small size. The aperture is 

 of size sufiicient to permit the passage of an ordinary knitting-needle. 



The above description of the ovary and ovarial sac agrees closely with that of Mayer 

 and Miall and Greenwood of these parts in the Indian Elephant. Forbes ' also found a 

 similar arrangement in the African species, but does not refer to any subdivision of the 

 ovarial pouch into two compartments. Observing, however, as he does, that his specimen 

 closely resembled that figured by Mayer in the Indian Elephant, it would appear that 

 these parts do not differ much in the two species of Elephant. The slightly lobulated 

 character of the ovary was also noticed by Forbes in the African Elephant. 



FaUoinan Ttthe. — This tube measiires 3 inches in length, and extends from the 

 morsus diaboli to the extremity of the corresponding uterine horn, with which it is 

 continuous. The morsus diaboli is situated at the upper and internal angle of the lower 

 or larger compartment of the ovarial pouch. From it the Fallopian tube winds upward 

 and inward, lying in relation to the posterior wall of the ovarial sac, as far as the extre- 

 mity of the cornu uteri. In this course the tube describes a well-marked sigmoid curve, as 

 well as two or three subordinate flexures, as represented in fig. 2, PI. XXII. Lying in 

 the posterior wall of the ovarial pouch, the Fallopian tube is altogether concealed from 

 the front by the ovary itself, and is only exposed to view when the latter is everted from 

 the sac (fig. 2, PI. XXII.). The morsus diaboli, as already remarked, is funnel-shaped, 

 and readily admits of the passage of a knitting-needle. Beyond this orifice, however, 

 the Fallopian tube gradually contracts, until, at the second limb of the sigmoid 

 curve (marked with an asterisk in fig. 2), it only admits a very delicate bristle ; this 

 calibre it retains as far as its junction with the uterine horn, into which it opens 

 abruptly. From this description it will be observed that the FaUopian tube lies only 

 in contact with the posterior wall of the ovarial sac, and does not encircle the anterior 

 and lower walls of that pouch, as in Hycena crocuta, in whicli animal these parts other- 

 wise present the closest resemblance to those of the Elephant. 



' Loc. cit. p. 432. 



