SKINNING BIRDS. 



43 



by the testicles in the male. The ovaries vary in 

 size from that of half the size of an egg to minute 

 points, depending, as in the male, on the season of 

 the year and age of the specimen. In very young 

 birds the ovaries consist of a small white body 

 which under a magnifying glass appears somewhat 



Fig. 7. 



granular. In both male and female are two yellow- 

 ish or whitish bodies, in the former sex lying above 

 the testicles, but further forward, and consequently 

 just in front of the kidneys; and in the female they 

 occupy about the same position. In addition to 

 the ovaries in the female, the oviduct is always 

 present (Fig. 7, 3), large, swollen, and convoluted 

 during the breeding season, but smaller and nearly 



