FEMALE OEGAKS OF THE PBOBOSCIDEA. 121 



but in the majority of mammals (though not in the Elephant) it is structurally adapted 

 to a totally different purpose — namely, to receive the male organ. In both species of 

 Elephant this transverse segmentation of an anterior portion of the Miillerian ducts 

 forming the uterus from a posterior portion forming the vagina takes place ; but, as 

 already pointed out, the function of the vagina in the Elephant (if function it has) 

 must be different from that which it performs in other animals, inasmuch as into it the 

 penis never enters, the function of the vagina in this respect being delegated to the 

 elongated urino-genital canal. 



In neither of the specimens of the African Elephant referred to was there the slightest 

 trace of a vaginal septum such as I have described in the Indian species. 



Umio-genital Canal. — The urino-genital canal extends from the mouth of the vagina 

 to the vulva, and measures 13 inches in length. The canal is not straight, but describes 

 a well-marked curve, the convexity of which is directed backward, and corresponds to 

 that of the perineum, against which it rests. For the sake of accuracy of description it 

 may conveniently be divided into two parts: — («) an intrapelvic portion, extending from 

 its commencement to the root of the clitoris ; and {h) an extrapelvic portion, which cor- 

 responds in length to that of the clitoris, beneath which it is situated. The intrapelvic 

 portion measures 5 inches in length and | of an inch in diameter, and is situated within 

 the pelvis. It passes horizontally backward below the rectum. Its walls are three 

 times as thick as those of the uterus, or vagina, the increased thickness being chiefly due 

 to the presence of a layer of circularly arranged muscular fibres, which extends from 

 the ora vaginae to the root of the clitoris. On slitting open this portion of the canal 

 its commencement presents the appearance seen in fig. 3, PI. XXII. In the axis of 

 the cul-de-sac forming the commencement of the urino-genital canal, there is a semiglo- 

 bular cushion of mucous membrane measuring \ an inch in diameter, which projects 

 into the lumen of the tube. Above this cushion, and separated by it from the trans- 

 versely elongated urethral aperture, which lies directly heloio it, are the two ora vaginee, 

 which, as in MiaU and Greenwood's specimen, are separated by " a thick rounded 

 cord covered by mucous membrane." Each os vaginae permits the passage of a 

 knitting-needle ; and the septum between them measures ^ of an inch in thickness. 

 Upon each side of the central cushion is the orifice of a small canal, into which a 

 probe can be passed to the depth of \ of an inch. These canals, which are situated 

 on each side of the uterus and open close to the point of entrance of the urethra 

 and Miillerian ducts, the history of development plainly shows are the remains of the 

 Wolflaan ducts ; in other words, they are the canals of Gaertner. The urino-genital 

 canal is lined by a thick mucous membrane, which, in its intrapelvic portion, is 

 uniformly smooth and presents no trace of longitudinal rugse. The extrapelvic portion 

 of the urino-genital canal extends along the under surface of the clitoris, and opens 

 anteriorly at the vulva. This orifice, according to Perrault ^ is, in the African 



' Loc. cit. p. 107, 



x2 



