40 ARTHUR ROBINSON. 



Examples of this stage of completion of the sac are presented by 

 the common badger and the racoon (Procyon lotor). 



In both these animals the only opening from the Fallopian tube 

 into the peritoneal cavity is extremely small, and is situated between 

 the posterior extremity of the ovary and the tip of the cornu uteri 

 on the inner face of the broad ligament. Only a very small portion 

 of the orifice of the Fallopian tube presents itself here, the orifice 

 being really enclosed in the ovarian sac, and it would be more 

 correct to call the minute opening above described an opening 

 of communication between the general abdominal cavity and the 

 ovarian sac ; from it, however, one or two fimbriae of the infundi- 

 bulum project.* 



So far we have noted four types or classes of peritoneal capsules 

 connected with the ovary ; they are as follows : — 



1. A class in which the pouch is shallow and widely open ventrally ; 

 the ovary is situated on the inner side of the pouch, and the orifice 

 of the oviduct is on the outer side. The oviduct runs almost 

 directly from the uterus to its abdominal termination, forming a 

 very slight curve. Examples of this class are — the rabbit, tiger, 

 antelope, cat, hyaena, koala, ornithorhynchus, sow, &c. 



2. A class in which, on account of the elongation of the Fallopian 

 tube and growth of the broad ligament, a more distinct pouch has 

 been formed, hanging down below the ovary. The orifice of the 

 pouch is wide, and is directed toward the mesial plane. The 

 opening of the oviduct is situated on the lower border of the orifice 



* Among a series of female generative organs, belonging to the Owens College, 

 kindly placed at my disposal by Professor Young, I found the generative organs 

 of the racoon previously described and figured by the late Dr. Watson in the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Society, No. 213, p. 2. After describing the course of the 

 Fallopian tube round the ovary, and the minute peritoneal opening situated 

 between the posterior extremity of the ovary and the tip of the uterine cornu, 

 Dr. Watson stated that the ovary was devoid of any peritoneal capsule, and that 

 there was no infundibulum to the Fallopian tube. At first sight I found a state of 

 affairs just like that figured and described in the paper quoted, but on closer 

 examination of the parts, made with the light thrown upon them by the examina- 

 tion of other animals, it was evident that what at first sight appeared to be 

 the surface of the ovary was in reality only the wall of the capsule, which in 

 this animal, instead of being lax, as is often the case, is drawn tightly over the 

 face of the ovary, and corresponds with its eminences and depressions, "when the 

 sac wall was opened along the front by an incision, the ovary was found in the 

 position already described. The infundibulum of the Fallopian tube was enclosed 

 in the sac lying close to the inner face of the ovary along its fine of attachment, to 

 the broad ligament a few fimbriae only projected from the minute opening in the 

 capsule by which the ovarian sac communicated with the peritoneal cavity. 



