i8 



Jeffries 071 an Hermaphrodite Bird. 



[January 



Springs, on Mav 16. 1SS3. In plumage it resembled females 

 of the species, but on dissection to determine the sex, both an 

 ovarv and a testicle were found ; the one on the left the other on 

 the right side. After examination by Mr. Brewster and Mr. J. 

 A. Allen, the body was placed in water to prevent its drying, 

 no alcohol being at the time procurable. Two days later the 

 body was transferred to a small quantity of alcohol, in which 

 it remained until presented to me. 



When opened to determine the sex the body was cut on one 

 side and the cloaca cut off from the rectum and the ducts, be-_ 

 sides more or less injury being done to the mesenteries. Below 

 follows a description of the anamolous organs, the kidne} s, fe- 

 male and male structures. 



The kidne3'S, of the usual structure fotnid among the Sparrows, 

 were perfectly normal in their anterior halves ; the posterior 

 halves, however, were anomalous. The left kidney was much 

 diminished in width at the expense of the inner portion ; the right 

 kidney, on the contrary, was much wider than usual and extended 



/ 



across the vertebral column and apparently — the specimen was 

 somewhat broken — ^^joined the left kidney by an isthmus.* From 

 the posterior border of the isthmus depended a lobe in front and 

 to the left of the vertebral column. Accordingly while the aorta 

 (i. Fig. i) and the pelves (5) of the kidneys are to be seen in the 

 anterior parts, these structures are posteriorly covered to a con- 

 siderable degree. The substance of the kidneys w^as perfectly 

 normal and with a smooth surface. The ureters were normal in 

 every respect. 



*This condition is sometimes found in man, where it is ]<no\vn as the horse-shoe 

 kidney. 



