120 PROF. M. "WATSON ON THE ANATOMY OF THE 



cord (regarded by them as the hymen), apparently presented a similar appearance in 

 one of the two specimens dissected by Stukeley', whilst in those examined by the 

 other anatomists above referred to not a trace of it was present. 



The differentiation of a secondary vagina in tlie Indian Elephant is not a little 

 remarkable, inasmuch as physiologically this organ appears to be unnecessary, the 

 functions of the secondary vagina being performed by the urino-genital canal ; for, as 

 long ago pointed out by John Hunter, into " the proper or, rather, uncommon vagina 

 the penis cannot enter." In respect of this differentiation the female organs of the 

 Elephant differ materially from those of Hyaena crocuta, which in other respects they 

 so closely resemble ; the combined MuUerian ducts in the last-named animal form 

 uterus, and uterus alone, and the vagina is not differentiated from the uterus. 



When we compare the female organs of the Indian with those of the African Elephant, 

 we find, taking into consideration the observations of Perrault and of Forbes on those 

 of the latter, that the two species agree in almost every particular. Perrault'^ describes 

 the cornua uteri of the African Elephant as being in contact for a distance of one foot, 

 their lumina, however, being separated by means of a mesial septum much as in the 

 Indian species. The two cornua, according to him, open separately into a common 

 cavity, which, by reason of the relation which it beai's to the uterus above and to the 

 urino-genital canal below, we must regard as the secondary vagina. This organ, in his 

 specimen, measured 18 inches in length, and opened below into the urino-genital canal. 

 According to Forbes (and the observations of this anatomist I can in all points confirm), 

 the cornua uteri lay in contact with one another for only 4^ inches, and terminated 

 below in a corpus uteri which measured 2^ inches in length. The corpus uteri in turn 

 opened into a secondary vagina, which in his specimen measured only 5| inches in length, 

 and terminated posteriorly in the urino-genital canal, the diameter of the aperture 

 of communication being much smaller than that of either of the canals between which 

 it lies. It would appear, therefore, that in the animal dissected by Perrault the cornua 

 uteri communicated directly by means of two separate orifices with the vagina, without 

 the intervention of a unilocular corpus uteri similar to that described by Forbes. 



The presence or otherwise of a " corpus uteri," as distinguished from the two cornua, 

 does not appear to be a matter of much importance so far as the function of these parts 

 is concerned, inasmuch as we know that in some animals the young are accommodated 

 within and nourished by contact with the walls of the locly, whilst in others they develop 

 within the horns of the uterus. We may therefore regard the uterus and cornua uteri as 

 different portions of the Miillerian ducts similarly modified in structure, in view of the 

 performance of one and the same function. With respect to the vagina the case is 

 widely different. It, like the uterus, is formed by the junction of the Miillerian ducts ; 



' See plate iii. of Stukcley ' On the Spleen, to which is added some Anatomical Observations on the Dis- 

 section of an Elephant : ' Lond. 1 723. 

 = Loc. cit. p. 13.3. 



