122 PEOF. M. WATSON ON THE A:^AT0MT OF THE 



Elephant, situated 2 feet in front of the pelvic outlet ; and in the Indian i species it 

 appears to occupy a similar position. This portion of the urino-genital canal measures 

 8 inches in length, and is of the same diameter as the intrapelvic portion. Its walls, 

 moreover, are of the same thickness, but differ in the arrangement of their muscular 

 coat. The muscular fibres of the intrapelvic portion of the canal are arranged in a 

 circular manner, whilst those of the extrapelvic segment are obliquely disposed, and 

 are of interest inasmuch as they present a very striking resemblance on the part of the 

 female to the homologous muscles met with in the male. The muscular fibres of 

 opposite sides arise from the central point of the perineum, which is situated 3 inches 

 below the anus, as well as from the middle line of the floor of the urino-genital 

 canal for 3 inches in front of that point. The fibres of opposite sides diverge, and, 

 passing obliquely upward and forward, so as to encircle the canal, are inserted into the 

 body of the clitoris for a distance of 2J inches in front of the junction of the crura 

 clitoridis. The anterior fibres describe a curved course between their origin and inser- 

 tion, the convexity of the curve being directed backward. A consideration of the origin, 

 insertion, and relation of these fibres to the insertion of the sphincter ani externus shows at 

 once that they correspond to the constrictor vaginae of other mammals, and that they 

 are therefore homologous with the bulbo-cavernosi muscles of the male urethra. The 

 terminal 5 inches of the urino-genital canal is entirely membranous and devoid of mus- 

 cular investment. The mucous membrane of this portion of the canal is thick and tough, 

 like that of the intrapelvic part, but differs from the latter in being thrown into minute 

 longitudinal rugoe. 



Comperian ducts. — Opening into the floor of the extrapelvic portion of the urino- 

 genital canal 1 inch in front of the junction of the crura clitoridis, which point corresjjonds 

 to about the middle in length of the entire canal, are two ducts, each large enough to 

 admit of the passage of a knitting-needle. The openings are placed, one on either side of 

 a mesial fold of mucous membrane, 1 inch apart, and are valvular in character. The ducts 

 to which they lead are perfectly straight, and can be readily traced obliquely backward 

 and downward through the floor of the urino-genital canal as fiir as the central point of 

 the perineum, where unfortunately they had been severed in removing the viscera from 

 the pelvis. Opposite this point their cut ends lay between the bulbo- and ischio- 

 cavernosi muscles — that is, at the spot which in the male' is occupied by the Cowperian 

 glands. Now, although it is always unsafe to predict any thing where organized struc- 

 ture is concerned, I have little hesitation in stating my belief that, in a perfectly fresh 

 and entire specimen, Cowperian glands will be found to occupy this position in the 

 female, exactly as they do in the male. At the same time it appears probable that in 

 the female these glands, if present, must be of much smaller size than in the opposite 

 sex, seeing that in the female there is not the slightest trace of the powerful muscles 



' Stukeley, p. 104. ' See Journal of Anat. and Phys. vol. vii. p. G8. 



