INTRODUCTORY 9 



The bones of the vertebral column are seven in the neck, thirteen 

 in the thoracic or chest region, seven in the loins, three in the pelvis, 

 and twenty-nine in the tail, whereof eight, however, are the incon- 

 spicuous chevron 1 bones. 



The bones of the appendicular skeleton are distributed as follows : 

 In each of the thoracic limbs or arms, 



Two shoulder bones. 



One arm bone. 



Two forearm bones. 



Thirty-seven hand bones. 

 In each of the pelvic limbs or legs, 



One hip bone. 



One thigh bone. 



Two leg bones. 



Four knee-joint bones. 



Thirtv-two foot bones. 



V 



In the appendicular skeleton, eleven bones of each hand, three of 

 each set of knee-joint bones, and eight bones of each foot are very 

 small sesamoid 2 bones, in all, forty-four inconspicuous bones. The 

 sixty pairs of bones which remain after deducting these forty-four in- 

 conspicuous bones are those usually described as forming the skeleton 

 of the limbs. 



Having thus far acquired a general view of the plan of the cat's 

 body, it behooves the student to supply himself with a skeleton which 

 shall serve as the basis of his work, and without which it will be impos- 

 sible for him to understand the bones, their names, parts, structures, 

 and uses. 



METHOD OF PREPARATION. 



The work laid out in this volume can be done with one strong 

 knife. It can be done more conveniently, however, if the student 

 have at hand the instruments supplied in a small dissecting case : sev- 

 eral dissecting knives, called scalpels, two pairs of forceps, two pairs 

 of scissors, a probe, and a grooved director. Chain-hooks are ser- 

 viceable, but are not absolutely necessary. 



Of the scalpels, one should be of medium size and one small. 

 The rough work of cleaning bones can be done with an old penknife. 



There may be one pair of small forceps and another larger, but not 



1 A V-shaped ornament. 2 From (Gr.) sesamon, a seed, and eides, like. 



