252 



THE SHOULDER GIRDLE. 



[CHAP. 



sternum, and superiorly with the humerus, and is connected 

 with the scapula only by a fibrous band. The two articula- 

 tions of the upper end of the humerus, the one with the 

 scapula, and the other with the coraco-clavicle, are separated 

 by a strong ligamentous partition. 



In the Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris] the condition of 

 these parts is quite different. The scapula is long and 

 narrow, but flattened. The spine sends a flat process back- 

 wards near its middle, and a long slender " metacromial " 



r;ia. 



FIG. 78. Shoulder girdle, with upper end of sternum (inner surface) of Shrew 



after Parker, X 7. ps presternum ; sr l first sternal rib ; sr 2 second sternal rib ; 

 ec partially ossified " epicoracoid " of Parker, or rudiment of the sternal extremity 

 of the coracoid ; ost omosternum ; pc rudiment of precoracoid (Parker) ; cl cla- 

 vicle ; mss ossified " mesoscapular segment;" a acromion : ma metacromial 

 process ; c coracoid. 



process from its extremity. The clavicle is very long, 

 slender, and curved. The " mesoscapular segment " forms 

 a distinct, though minute, bone between the clavicle and 

 scapula. 



In the Shrews (Soridda) the scapula (see Fig. 78) is 

 also long and narrow, and the slender acromion ends in 

 two long diverging processes, of which the anterior (a) 

 supports the clavicle and the posterior (ma) is called 



