SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
31 
the glands observed by these able anatomists.”* The same 
author cites the opinions of Professor Agardh, as published 
at p. 453 of a work entitled c Allman Wext Biologi af C. 
A. Agardh.’ I shall make no apology for transferring the 
entire passage to my pages, as it appears so confirmatory 
of my views. The cord spoken of as resembling a navel- 
string may probably admit of another explanation, but 
concerning this, and the transfer of the young from the 
first to the second uterus, much still remains to be learned. 
The passage from Agardh is as follows : — “ The marsu¬ 
pials are Mammalia which approach very nearly to birds ; 
the Monotremata in particular almost coincide with them. 
Not only do the developed form of the hind legs, the de¬ 
ranged functions of the anterior extremities, the position 
of the body, and the destination of the tail to govern the 
pace, all indicate this affinity, but their internal structure 
is likewise very similar. They constitute a distinct group 
of Mammalia, combining carnivorous as well as herbivo¬ 
rous animals, in the same manner as birds contain preda¬ 
cious as well as frugivorous tribes. They have no distinct 
internal uterus, for it is only the connection of the two 
oviducts to which that name has hitherto been given ; nei¬ 
ther have they a peculiar vagina, for the organ which 
Daubenton and Geoffroy thus distinguish, when they as¬ 
sert that the marsupials have two vaginae, belongs rather, 
according to the researches of Tyson, to the oviducts or 
Fallopian tubes ; so that, except in the doubleness of the 
parts, the marsupials resemble birds in their organs of ge¬ 
neration , as well as in other respects . The embryo also is 
brought forth, not as in other Mammalia, perfectly formed, 
but it is produced in the state of an egg, and in that form 
* Mag. Nat. Hist. n. s. iii. 345. 
