208 THE MYOLOGY OF THE RAVEN. 



it derives its name, and soon terminate at the lower or 

 tail-end in a tendon. This tendon, long and narrow, 

 passes directly down the postero-internal aspect of the 

 leg to become inserted into the dense fascia covering the 

 tibial cartilage at its supero-internal angle. 



Professor Mivart says that in Ornithorhynchus this 

 muscle is inserted into the astragalus. And that fur- 

 ther, in Nycticehus it has lost its tibial attachment, 

 is entirely muscular, and blends with the gastrocnemius. 

 This same author also informs us that in the Agouti 

 it arises from the tibia only, wdiile it is wanting in the 

 Pig, Hyaena, Seal, and others {Elem. Anat., p. 354). 

 I present these comparative notices of such muscles 

 as the soleus in others of the Vertebrata in order that 

 we may have before us at least short histories of the 

 muscle in question, which often prove suggestive. 



Another word here in regard to the "tibial cartilage." 

 I find a number of specimens, apparently very old 

 birds, wherein its lower outer angle has ossified, and 

 c[uite a sizable sesamoid is there formed, wdth a facet 

 for the tibia. 



111. The peroneus longus^ is very well developed 



^ A very full description of this muscle is given by Professor 

 Gadow, to whom we are also indebted for the subjoined nomen- 

 clatural record, to wit : — 



" 47. M. PERONEUS SUPERFICIALIS. 



M. quartus posterior p)^deni movens. Aldrovandi. 



M. decimus circa tibiani et fibulam. Hteno. 



L" accessoire des flechisseurs des doigts du pied. Vicq d'Azyr, 1774, 



p. 510, No. 1. 

 Innerer Beinmuskel. Merrem, p. 160, No. 2. 

 Extensor tarsi externus. Wiedemann, p. 99. 



M. tibialis posticus. Tiedemann, § 305 ; Carus, Erlauterungstafeln. 

 LaDger oberer Wadenbeinmuskel. Meckel, S)jstem, p. 384 (innerer 



stiirkerer Kopf von No. 2). 



