It is the general rule among vertebrate animals that the ovaries are completely independent of the ducts which convey their products to the exterior. In certain fishes, however, there is an absolute continuity between the two structures, which is believed to be due to a simple concrescence between the originally distinct ovary and oviduct. The latter has grown round the former, an obvious advantage in preventing the eggs from wandering into the abdominal cavity and becoming lost. In the Mammalia we find discontinuity as a general rule. But in quite a number of forms folds of the lining membrane of the abdominal cavity are developed, which practically ensure the passage of the ova into the oviduct when they are extruded from the ovaries. The oviduct, moreover, has a large and fimbriated mouth, called in human anatomy--which is provided with a number of fanciful names--the morsus diaboli. This almost wraps round the ovary, and thus prevents the ova from straying in the wrong direction. Moreover, the ovary itself is often so arranged that it can easily be withdrawn into a pocket of the peritoneum, from which the obvious exit is by the gaping mouth of the oviduct. This disposition of the generative parts is still further modified in a few animals, such as the Rat[41] and the Kinkajou.[42] In these animals the mouth of the oviduct actually opens into the interior of a closed chamber which contains the ovary. In this case there is but one route for the {74} extruded ova to follow. This series of steps in the perfecting of the mode of safe extrusion of the ova is highly interesting, and is a piece of evidence in favour of the high position of the mammals. [Illustration] FIG. 48.--Female urino-genital apparatus of various Marsupials. A, _Didelphys dorsigera_ (young); B, _Trichosurus_; C, _Phascolomys wombat_. _B_, Urinary bladder; _Cl_, "cloaca"; _Fim_, fimbriae; _g_, clitoris; _N_, kidney; _Od_, Fallopian tube; _Ot_, aperture of Fallopian tube; _Ov_, ovary; _r_, rectum; _Sp_, septum dividing vagina; _Sug_, urino-genital sinus; _Ur_, ureter; _Ut_, uterus; _Ut_', opening of the uterus into the median vagina (_VgB_); _Vg_, lateral vagina; _Vg_', its opening into the urino-genital sinus; + (in B), point of approximation of uteri; + (in C) and *, rectal glands. (From Wiedersheim's _Comparative Anatomy_.) {75}