Mr. Home's Observations on the 
232 
itself is smooth, like those over which tendons sometimes pass ; 
but the lateral parts are rough, and have a pair of muscles 
arising from them inserted into the skin of the false belly, to 
bring its mouth towards the pudendum. 
The mode in which the young kanguroo passes from the- 
uterus into the false belly has been matter of much speculation, 
and it has been even supposed that there was an internal com- 
munication between these cavities ; but after the most diligent 
search, I think I may venture to assert that there is no such 
passage. This idea took its rise from there being no visible 
opening between the uterus and vagina in the unimpregnated 
state; but such an opening being "very apparent, both during 
pregnancy and after parturition, overturns this hypothesis; 
for we cannot suppose that the foetus when it has reached the 
vagina can pass out in any other way than through the exter- 
nal parts. That this is really the case, and that in this way it 
gets into the false belly, is highly probable for the following 
reasons. 
The false belly has muscles to bring its mouth as near as 
possible to the opening of the vulva, which does not appear 
necessary for any , other purpose than that of receiving the 
foetus. 
The bones belonging to the mammas and false belly have 
muscles, which by their action will bring down both these 
parts towards the vulva, for which no other use can be as- 
signed ; and these parts are so much detached from the abdo- 
minal muscles, that this effect can be produced during their 
action to expel the foetus from the uterus. 
The vulva has naturally an unusual projection, and the mar- 
gin of the pelvis immediately before it, is rounded and smooth. 
