53^ Skeleton of Balcendptei'a Rorqual. 



pact tissue of ossific matter. The interosseous Spdce^ or cavity, 

 between the radius and ulna, is very narrow ; it has a very 

 thick membrane, not unhke a piece of leather. 



The Carpus, or Wrist, — This is composed of six large 

 bones ; some in the form of a cube, others in that of a cylin- 

 der. They appear to have no articulated surfaces ; but, on 

 the contrary, are at very great distances from each other, and 

 seem as though they were fixed in a thick tendinous sub- 

 Stance, which envelopes them on all sides ; so that, to pre- 

 serve these bones in their natural state, it was impossible for 

 M. Dubar to pay any attention to their particular shape. 



The Metacarpus, or Hand, is composed of four long and 

 thick bones, the two middle ones bearing a resemblance, but 

 not in magnitude, to the thigh-bones of an ox ; and, with the 

 exception of the index, the three others are united to one and 

 the same bone. They are slightly curved, and are of an equal 

 thickness throughout. 



The Fingers, — The fingers are four in number, and the 

 two smallest are the longest and strongest. The first, or the 

 index, has four phalanges ; the second, seven ; the third, six ; 

 and the fourth, five ; each having a space for a nail. 



These bones or phalanges are independent of those form- 

 ing the metacarpus. All of them are separated from each 

 other by long tendinous ligaments, which are very flexible. 

 Thus we find great strength within a small space in this limb, 

 because it was there required : thus illustrating the beauty of 

 Providence, in accommodating every part to the office it is 

 designed to perform. 



^"Q/" the Construction of the Tail, — The manner in which 

 Ihis tremendous and only weapon of defence belonging to 

 this animal is constructed is as beautiful in its mechanism 

 as any other part of the animal. It is wholly composed 

 of three layers of tendinous fibres, covered by the common 

 cutis and cuticle ; two of these layers are external, and the 

 other internal. The direction of the fibres of the two exter- 

 nal layers is the same as in the tail, forming a stratum about 

 One third of an inch thick ; but varying, in this respect, as the 

 tail is thicker or thinner. The middle layer is composed en- 

 tirely of tendinous fibres, passing directly across, between the 

 t"wo external ones above described, their length being in pro- 

 portion to the thickness of the tail : a structure which gives an 

 amazing degree of strength to this part. The substance of 

 the tail is so firm and compact that the blood-vessels retain 

 their dilated state even when cut across ; and this section con- 

 sists of a large vessel surrounded by as many small ones as 

 Can come into contact with its external surface: but which of 

 these are arteries, and which veins, has not been ascertained. 



