The female organs in the Phytophagous Cetacea have been described by Steller as they exist in the Rytina, and by Home in the Dugong ; the latter author has given a figure of the uterus with part of the vagina: (see fig. 279.) In both species the vagina (a) is characterized by the longitudinal rug of its inner surface. The body of the uterus (c) commences by a single os tinc (b) in the Dugong, and gives off the cornua uteri (d, d) at right angles." The structure of the Fallo pian tubes and ovaries is not described. Steller states that in the Rytina they resemble those of the Mare. The vulva he describes as of a tri angular form, with the clitoris, which is of a gristly texture, and an inch and a half long, situated at the anterior broad part of the open ing, which is eight inches anterior to the anus.
In all the females of the zoophagous tribe of Cetacea which Hunter examined, the parts of generation 1,vere very uniformly the same ; consisting of the external opening, the vagina, the body and two horns of the uterus, Fallopian tubes, fimbriee, and ovaria.
" The external opening is a longitudinal slit, or oblong opening, whose edges meet in two opposite points, and the sides are rounded off, so as to form a kind of sulcus. The skin and parts on each side of this sulcus are of a looser texture than on the common surface of the animal, not being loaded with oil, and allow ing of such motion of one part on another as admits of dilatation and contraction. The va gina passes upwards and backwards towards the loins, so that its direction is diagonal re specting the cavity of the abdomen, and then divides into the two horns, one on each side of the loins; these afterwards terminating in the Fallopian tubes, to which the ovaria are at tached. From each ovarium there is a small fold of the peritoneum, which passes up to wards the kidney of the same side, as in most quadrupeds.
" The inside of the vagina is smooth for about one-half of its length, and then begins to form something similar to valves projecting towards the mouth of the vagina, each like an os tincx : these are about six, seven, eight, or nine in number. Where they begin to be formed, they hardly go quite round, but the last are com plete circles. At this part, too, the vagina becomes smaller, and gradually decreases in width to its termination. From the last pro jecting part, the passacre is continued up to the opening of the two arns, and the inner sur face of this last part is thrown into longitudinal rugm, which are continued into the horns.
Whether this last part is to be reckoned com mon uterus or vagina, and that the last val vular part is to be considered as os tincee, I do not know; but from its having- the longitudinal rugw, I am inclined to think it is uterus, this structure appearing to be intended for dis tinction.
" The horns are an equal division of this part; they make a gentle turn outwards, and are of considerable length. 'Their inner surface is thrown into longitudinal rugm, without any small protuberances for the cotyledons to form upon, as in those of ruminating animals ; and where they terminate the Fallopian tubes begin.
" In the Bottle-noseWhale ( Delphinus Tur sio), where the Fallopian tubes opened into the horns of the uterus, they were surrounded by pendulous bodies hanging loose in the horns.
66 The Fallopian tubes, at their termination in the uterus, are remarkably small for some in ches, and then begin to dilate rather suddenly; and the nearer to the mouth the more this dila tation increases, like the mouth of a French horn, the termination of which is five or six inches in diameter. They are very full of lon gitudinal rugm through their whole length.
" The ovaria are oblong bodies, about five inches in length; one end attached to the mouth of the Fallopian tube, and the other near to the horn of the uterus. They are irre gular on their external surface, resembling a capsula renalis or pancreas. They have no capsula but what is formed by the long Fallo pian tube.
" How the male and female copulate I do not know; but it is alleged that their position in the water is erect at that time, which I can readily suppose may be true; for otherwise, if the connexion is long, it would interfere with the act of respiration, as in any other position the upper surface of the heads of both could not be at the surface of the water at the same time. However, as in the parts of generation they most resemble those of the ruminating kind, it is possible they may likewise resemble them in the duration of the act of copulation, for I believe all the ruminants are quick in this act.
" Of their uterine gestation I as yet know nothing, but it is very probable that they have only a single one at a time, there being only two nipples. This seemed to be the case with the Bottle-nose Whale, caught near Berkeley, which had been seen for some days with one young one following it, and they were both caught together.