304 THE MYOLOGY OF THE RAVEN. 



as an aponeurosis from the distal extremity of the 

 post-pubic element of the pelvis, and from that 

 semiteiidinous ligament which stretches from one 

 post-pubic tip to the other, as far as the linea alba ; 

 the rectus of the opposite side arising from the re- 

 maining half of this ligament. 



For half its distance, as the rectus abdominis proceeds 

 towards the sternum, the muscle is purely tendinous ; 

 this tendon then terminates in nearly a straight 

 transverse line, from which the muscular fibres abruptly 

 commence. These latter then go, longitudinally, 

 directly to the xiphoidal margin of the sternum where 

 they are attached ; but beyond the lateral processes 

 of the sternum, though still in line with its sternal 

 attachment, the outer fibres of the rectus terminate 

 in a strong, aponeurotic membrane, which, as it passes 

 forwards is gradually lost over the outer surface of the 

 thoracic walls, beneath the external oblique and pectoralis 

 major muscles. The carneous portion of the rectus 

 abdominis in this bird fails to exhibit the slightest 



Gadow we have the rectus abdominis thus compiled for us (loc. cit., 

 p. 130 :- 



" 23. M. RECTUS ABDOMINIS. 



Par secundum musculorum abdominis. Aldrovandi. 

 M. rectus (abdominis). Steno ; Merrem, p. 151, No. 1. 



Wiedemann, p. 80. 



,, ,, Tiedemann, 232. 



,, ,, Owen, Apteryx, p. 286. 



Magnus, p. 232. 



Selenka, p. 103, No. 27. 



,, ,, ,, Gadow, No. 3. 



,, Watson, p. 74. 



Gerader Bauchrnuskel. Meckel, System, p. 304, No. 4 ; ArcMv, 



p. 249, No. 23. 

 Le grand droit de I abdomen. Gervais et Alix, p. 17. 



Alix, p. 383." 



