1905. 



ANATOMY OF THE LEATHERY TURTLE. 



323 



Reproductive Organs. 



The ovaries are attached by the parovarium to the dorsal pei-i- 

 toneuni just lateral to the efferent renal veins. They are very 

 similar to those of Chelone, and, in this young individual, have 

 the form of a flattened band veiy much folded transversely upon 

 itself. They extend from about 3 cm. behind the posterior end of 

 the kidneys to nearly the same distance in front of their anterior 

 end. 



The oviducts, like the ovaries, are in a very immature con- 

 dition. Each extends from the uro-genital sinus to a point some 

 little distance in front of the ovary, suspended from the dorsal 

 body- wall by a peritoneal fold that passes on anteriorly for some 

 distance beyond the mouth of the duct. The duct does not 

 occupy the free bordei- of the peritoneal fold, but lies about 1 cm. 

 within it ; the mouth, however, opens actually upon the free 

 border. The anteiior part of the oviduct is slightly wavy. 



Posteriorly the oviducts enter the lateral walls of the uro- 

 genital sinus, near the ureters ; but on neither side do they in 

 any way communicate with the cavity of the sinus. After an 

 injection of water into both oviducts had failed to show any such 

 opening, the oviducts and ureters were slit up (text-fig. 73). Upon 



Text-fig. 73. 



U/T 



Dermocheljjs coriacea, part of wall of uro-geuital sinus, witli termination of 

 oviduct and ureter (right side). 



entering the wall of the uro-genital sinus, the character of the 

 lining of the oviduct suddenly altered, from being perfectly 

 smooth it became deeply laminate longitudinally. This pleated 

 segment of the duct passed towards the urinary papilla and 

 gradually narrowed to a blind end. Fluid injected down the 

 right ureter entered the uro-genital sinus by two mouths situated 

 on the apex of the urinary papilla. When the ureter was opened 

 it was found that close to the apex of the papilla it forked, each 

 branch being in connection with one of the two openings. 



On the urinary papilla of the left bide there were also two 



