XVI.] EDENTATA. 277 



ankylosed to the ends of the metacarpals, so that in adult 

 animals one of the usual bones of the digit appears to be 

 entirely wanting. The middle phalanges are long and com- 

 pressed. The ungual phalanges are also long, much com- 

 pressed, gently carved, and pointed. Bony laminae reflected 

 from their bases encase and support the roots of the claws. 



In the Two-toed species (genus Cholxpus, Fig. 100), the 

 magnum and trapezoid are distinct. The functional digits 

 are the second and third, and there are rudiments of the first 

 and fourth metacarpals, though not of the fifth. The proximal 

 phalanges (/^) are extremely short, as in Bradypus, but do 

 not ankylose with the metacarpals. The ungual phalanges 

 are not so long as in Bradypus. 



In the Pangolins {Manis) the scaphoid and lunar are united, 

 but all the other carpal bones are distinct. There are five 

 digits with the complete number of phalanges, which, except 

 in the pollex, are short and broad. The distal ends of the 

 ungual phalanges have deep median clefts. This phalanx in 

 the third digit is immensely developed, and considerably so 

 in the fourth. The first, second, and fifth digits are com- 

 paratively small. 



In the Cape Anteater [Orycferopus) the pollex is entirely 

 suppressed, but all the other digits are well developed, and 

 terminate in subequal, compressed, ungual phalanges of 

 moderate size. The second and third digits are nearly 

 equal, the fourth and fifth shorter. A sesamoid bone is 

 developed on the dorsal side of the metacarpo-phalangeal 

 articulations. 



In the true Anteaters {Myrjuecophagd) all the usual carpal 

 bones are distinct. The unciform supports the fifth, fourth, 

 and a considerable part of the third, metacarpals. The first 

 digit is very slender, the second also slender, with com- 

 pressed phalanges of nearly equal length. The third digit 



