FEMALE ORGANS OF THE PROBOSCIDEA. 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. 
Urino-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 :—(a) an intrapelvic portion, extending from 
its commencement to the root of the clitoris ; and (6) 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 vagine to the root of the clitoris. On slitting open this portion of the canal 
its commencement presents the appearance seen in fig. 3, Pl. 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 below it, are the two ora vagine, 
which, as in Miall and Greenwood’s specimen, are separated by “a thick rounded 
cord covered by mucous membrane.” Each os yagine permits the passage of a 
knitting-needle; and the septum between them measures 4 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 4 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 
Wolffian 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 rug. 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 
