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Show 1866.] IN THE GENERATIVE ORGANS OF A COW. 593 to be a curious example of an hermaphrodite. Although interesting physiologically as a specimen exhibiting deviation from the normal type in the sexual organs, yet the animal did not possess such other points of general or public interest as to entitle it to a permanent place in the Society's collection. On anatomical investigation of the dead body it was found to afford indications of belonging either to the spurious kind of female hermaphroditism, or to be in some degree an example of what has been termed transverse hermaphroditism*,-that is, a malformation of the generative system wherein the internal organs belong to one sex and the external to another-or (as has been ingeniously suggested*!/) that, supposing a transverse line were drawn between the external and the internal parts, assuming these to be superimposed the one over the other, there would exist a different sex in the upper and lower segments. Instances of transverse hermaphroditism in the lower mammalia are, comparatively speaking, not of unfrequent occurrence; but the present one, if strictly coming'under that denomination, is rendered interesting by possessing, in some respects, a structural condition allying it to the rare division of transverse hermaphroditism in which the external organs are of the male type, the internal of the female J. It presents a kind of intermediate stage or grade of what is known as the Free Martin §-that variety of sexual malformation in twin cattle, one of which bears external resemblances to a female, or has superadded individual male organs, but even when purely feminine in structure is often barren. To convey an idea of the bodily appearance of this animal sent to the Gardens, I shall jot down a few points appertaining thereto ; for in cases of genital malformation it is desirable to observe how far the outward character agrees with, or deviates from, the true sexual organization. In size it was about equal to an Alderney Cow. There was nothing remarkable in colour, which was as follows :-Head blackish brown ; muzzle and tips of ears nearly black ; back and well down the sides lightish brown, shading below and on the outer aspect of the legs to a more blackish brown, becoming entirely black below the hocks ; each hind leg just above the hoof marked by a broad circle of white hairs; axillary and inguinal regions whitish ; tail dark brown, ending in" a tuft of strong black hairs. The horns were short, gently tapering to the points, and having an outward and forward spread. Ears finely formed, not long, but conspicuously directed upwards and slightly forwards. Dr. Crisp, who examined the living animal along with me, considered at first sight that it bore resemblances fully as much to the * Gurlt, Lehrbuch der pal hoi. Anat. der Haus-Saugethiere, (1832) vol. ii. p 185. t See Prof. Simpson's article, " Hermaphroditism," in the 'Cyclop, of Anat. and Phvsiol.' vol. ii. p. C85. t Var. a. Hermaph. transv. masculmus, of Gurlt, loc. cit. p. 18b. § Hunter, Phil. Trans. 1779; and Palmer's Edit, of Hunter's Works, 1837 vol. iv. p. 31. |