No. 640] SHORTER ARTICLES AND DISCUSSIOX 



473 



which it arose. The new gene should prove to be linked with 

 dark-eye, like its allelomorph, albinism. Since it occupies, in a 

 scale of dominance, an intermediate position between color and 

 albinism, the mutant should give a coupling series wlien mated 



to albinos carrying pink-eye ^F^ = ^ ^ J 



but a repulsion series when the same mutant is mated to pink- 



GENITAL OEGANS OF HERMAPHRODITIC FUR SEALS 

 The resumption of commercial killing of the surplus and use- 

 less males of the fur-seal herd resorting to the Pribilof Islands 

 of Alaska furnished an opportunity to study the life history and 

 anatomy of this group of mammals. Aft^r a lapse of six years, 

 killing was begun again in 1918 by the Bureau of Fisheries. 

 Upwards of 33,000 males, mostly young, were secured and their 

 skins preserved for sale by the go,vernment. Two hermaphro- 

 ditic animals were killed among this large number and the 

 writer had an opportunity of examining the sexual organs of 

 both. Such abnormalities of the species have not previously 

 been recorded and since they are rarely found among mammals 

 of any species it seems desirable to note the occurrence with a 

 brief description. The organs of both animals have been deposited 

 in the United States National :^Ius('uni. 



Normally the female Alaska fur-seal has two kidney-shaped 

 ovaries located just forward of tlie pelvis and loosely invested in 

 the folds of connecting ligaments. Blood vessels, ureters, fal- 

 lopian tubes and uteri are attached to the same folds. The 

 ureters pass above the genitalia but bend down below to reach 

 the tip of the bladder. The uterus is biearinate, an ovary being 

 attached to the distal end of each horn. It is pretty well deter- 

 mined that each side functions alternately every other year. The 

 horns unite in the median line and the vagina eontimies to the 

 exterior, a distance of about 20 cm. Attached to the lower side 

 of the vagina is the pear-shaped and very muscular bladder. 

 The urethra leading therefrom is deeply embedded in the mus- 

 cular walls of the lower vagina as it passes to its point of dis- 

 charge near the exterior. 



eyed colored individuals ( Fi = ^ 



J. A. Detlefsex. 



