31 



drawings of them have been made in situ. My drawing of 

 these bones was made on the spot, before they were separated 

 from the cartilage in which they were imbedded. If Beale be 

 right, his whale has seven square carpal bones, but it is possible 

 that by mistake he has included the first metacarpal bone of 

 the thumb, among the carpal bones. Cuvier never saw either 

 the carpal or metacarpal bones, or the phalanges of his speci- 

 mens of sperm whales. The dimensions of our carpal bones 

 are as follows : — 



First carpal bone of thumb, 

 Ditto ditto, 



Second carpal bone of thumb, 

 Ditto ditto, 



Carpal bone of fore finger, 

 Ditto ditto, 



Carpal bone of middle finger, 

 Ditto ditto. 



Carpal bone of fourth finger, 

 Ditto ditto. 



Carpal bone of little finger. 

 Ditto ditto. 



The metacarpal bones, which are much compressed, and 

 scarcely to be distinguished from the phalangeal, are in num- 

 ber, five being to all appearance the first joints of their 

 several digits. That of the thumb is more dilated at the 

 carpal end ; while the largest is that of the middle finger, and 

 measures four inches in length, and three in breadth, — but I 

 give the following as their general dimensions : — 



