10 MAINI5 AGRICUIvTURAIv EXPERIME^NT STATION. I9IO. 



into smaller bundles. These smaller bundles anastomose fre- 

 quently as they approach the oviduct (figures 7, 8 and 9). At 

 the attachment of this ligament to the oviduct these bands of 

 fibers continue around the duct. Most of them pass to the 

 medial side (figures 8, 9.). 



The free ventral margin of the ventral ligament in the laying 

 hen is a solid muscular cord 3 to 6 mm. in diameter. This cord 

 becomes heavier toward the caudal end of the ligament. From 

 this cord bundles of fibers extend on either side toward the 

 oviduct in much the same way as has already been described 

 for the muscle bundles on the medial side of the dorsal liga- 

 ment. These fibers continue around the oviduct. Some of the 

 fibers pass to the medial and some to the lateral side of the duct. 



Most of the above points are shown in the preparations of 

 which figures 6-9 are photographs. Figures 6 and 7, which 

 have been used to show the shape of the ligaments at sexual 

 maturity also show the musculature of the ligaments. Figure 

 6 is a photograph of the ventral ligament. It shows the heavy 

 muscular cord at the free ventral margin. This cord is much 

 heavier at the caudal than at the cranial end. From this cord 

 the interwoven bundles are seen separating, breaking up into 

 smaller bundles and spreading out in the ligament as they pass 

 toward the oviduct. Near the margin from ^hich the duct has 

 been cut many of the fibers are seen anastomosing. 



Figure 7 shows the origin of the separate muscle bundles 

 near the dorsal margin of the dorsal ligament. This photo- 

 graph is taken from the lateral side of the duct so that the' 

 muscle origins here show through the air sac wall and the peri- 

 toneum of the lateral side of the ligament. These bundles are 

 seen breaking up into smaller bundles and the small bundles 

 are seen anastomosing as they pass to the duct. In the anterior 

 portion where the funnel and anterior end of the duct are 

 attached some of the muscle bundles can be followed as they 

 pass onto the wall of the duct. 



Figures 8 and 9 are photographs of opposite sides of the 

 samic preparation. This preparation is a piece of the medial 

 half of the caudal end of the isthmus and the attached liga- 

 ments of the oviduct of a laying hen. The lateral half of the 

 oviduct has been removed and the glandular layer scraped •'^rom 

 the medial half. Figure 8 is a photograph of the lateral aspect 



