61 
are at least highly suggestive of true flexor sublimis elements, here 
again shrunk down into the palm. Such a reduction, complete or 
partial, is, in fact, found in other well-known forms, as in Hatteria ;* 
and amongst the Mammalia in Viverra civetta,t where that part of the 
flexor sublimis, at least, which is inserted into the fifth digit, arises not 
with the rest of the superficial flexor fibres in the forearm, but from 
the annular ligt. and pisiform. The tendon to the fourth digit, too, in 
this animal receives an accessory short slip which joins the proper 
flexor perforatus tendon. Finally, im the Jerboa,{ according to 
Humphry, “the flexor sublimis passes to the three middle digits only, 
the other digits (J. and V.) receiving delicate muscular superficial 
flexors from the supernumerary carpal ossicle which is present in that 
animnal.”’ 
Further, in Chiamydophorus there is a large, thin superficial palmaris 
longus$ condylar in origin and fleshy to the wrist nearly. “ Its tendon 
expands over the palmar ossicle, and ends in four superficial slips lost 
in sheathing the tendons over the digits.” Hyrtl was doubtful whether 
the latter insertion was not that of a flexor subiimis. Macalister’s 
rejection of this tentative view is doubtless right, but I am inclined 
to believe that his “sublimis”’ is only part of the deep flexor mass, 
and that the true sublimis is represented by the small fleshy slips re- 
ferred to arising from the palmar sesamoid. 
In Myrmecophaga jubata|| Macalister says that the flexor sublimis is 
unrepresented, but that a strong bicipital palmaris longus is present 
inserted by two slips, one on each side of the first phalanx of the 
powerful middle digit. The flexor profundus is very large, with five 
heads, but forming a single fleshy belly ending in three tendons—one 
central, enormous, for the third digit; one smaller, to the fourth toe; 
one still smaller to the index, and a very fine slip to the pollex 
The same author notes the presence in Myrmecophaga of “a small 
superficial flexor of the fifth digit, arising from the annular ligament 
on its inner side by a tendon; this small muscle gives off a slip to the 
ulnar side of the lumbricalis for the medius.’”’4 
In the absence of a flexor sublimis this muscle bears an interesting 
resemblance to similar slips in the Civet and Jerboa for the fifth digit 
(v. supra). No such arrangement was found in any of the other 
insectivorous Edentates examined by Macalister. 
The arrangements of the flexor mass vary so considerably amongst 
Edentates that it is scarcely possible to give a synopsis of them. 
There is, however, a general tendency to imperfection in the segmen- 
tation of flexor sublimis, from the palmaris longus on the one hand, 
and from the flexor profundus stratum on the other; and in several 
cases flexor sublimis is entirely absent. The arrangement of the ten- 
dons of the deep flexor varies, of course, with the skeletal modifica- 
tions of the manus. It is interesting to note the presence or absence 
of the palmar sesamoid which in several Edentate forms assumes large 
proportions, as in Notoryctes. It is present in Manis, but is absent in 
the other ant-eaters, and in Orycteropus Macalister remarks that “ its 
presence in Jas is interesting, as 1t is characteristic of all the cata- 
phractous edentates.’’{] 
*xx., page 176. Tt xxil., page 172. }xx., page 176, Note. § xxvii., 
page 250. || xxxv., page 502. 4] xxxv., page 503. 
