On the Female Organs and Plaeentation of the Racoon. 283 



A supernumerary epidermic covering or epifcrichium is not confined 

 to Procyon. A similar epidermic covering has been described by 

 Welcker as investing the foetus of Bradypus, Gholaipus, Myrmecophaga, 

 Dicotytes, Sus, and Eqmis, and more recently Professor Turner has 

 noted its occurrence in the foetus of Gholaipus Hoffmanni. Welcker 

 states that he found no trace of this membrane in the foetus of Felis 

 or Ursus. Its total absence in the latter, and its presence in a well- 

 developed form in Procyon is remarkable, seeing that, in respect of so 

 many important structural details, these two genera approach one 

 another so closely. Further observations are necessary with regard to 

 the distribution of this membrane among the members of the Carni- 

 vora, and when made will in all probability establish its existence in 

 other genera than Procyon, in which alone it has hitherto been 

 described.* 



The foetus, measured along the curve of the back from the tip of the 

 nose to the root of the tail, was 4<§ inches in length, whilst a straight line 

 from the most projecting part of the forehead to the root of the tail 

 measured 2^ inches. The dorsal region and sides of the body were 

 covered with short hairs of a lead-blue colour, while on the forehead, 

 lower surface of the neck, and outer sides of the thighs, the hair was of 

 a lighter colour. On the ventral surface of the body and inner sides 

 of the thighs the hair was not developed to the same extent as else- 

 where. The nails were pare white and fully formed. The eyes 

 were completely closed ; and, looking at the comparativ ely mature con- 

 dition of the foetus, I am inclined to believe that, in the case of the 

 racoon, as in that of some other Carnivora, the young are born blind. 

 The umbilicus was situated three-fourths of an inch in front of the 

 anus. 



An umbilical cord, as such, could hardly be said to exist. The 

 vessels composing it, after escaping from the belly of the embryo, almost 

 at once separated, and applying themselves to the narrowest part of the 

 placenta, extended forwards towards the back of the embryo, and, after 

 giving off numerous arborescent branches, disappeared by dipping 

 into the substance of the organ. 



The vessels composing the cord consisted of two umbilical arteries 

 and a single umbilical vein. 



Microscopic Anatomy of the Placenta. 



After the placenta had been removed from the uterus, its uterine 

 surface was observed to present an appearance totally different from 

 that which characterises the corresponding surface of that organ in 

 either the bitch or cat, both of which I have myself examined, or 



* For fall details respecting the nature and distribution of the epitrichium the 

 reader is referred to the papers already quoted of Welcker and Turner. 



