126 Prof. W. K. Parker on the presence of Claws 



phalanges to make it normal as a Reptilian " finger ; " the 

 proximal piece therefore answers to three^ in an undivided 

 state, for the distal phalanx must be that which carries the 

 claw. 



In the adult Indian Cassowary {Casuarius galeatus) there is 

 only one carpal bone free ; the '' manus " is a solid single 



Fig. 2. 



Manus of Casuarius. 

 It, radius ; U, ulna ; M, elements of manus consolidated ; cl, claw. 



piece, with only one finger (the second or " index ^^) de- 

 veloped, and this has only hvo phalanges — it ought to have 

 three; and the distal phalanx is an inch long and carries a 

 large claw. 



In the ripe embryo of a specimen of the Mooruk (C 

 bennetti) I find four cartilaginous carpal nuclei and three 

 metacarpal rays: the first is very small and feeble; the 

 second very strong and with the normal number of 

 phalanges {i. e., three beside the metacarpal), and tbe distal 

 or ungual joint is very long and carries along claw; the 

 third metacarpal is about one sixth the size of the second, 

 and has no phalanges on it. 



In the Emu {Dronnsus) the second digit has two pha- 

 langes and a long curved claw. In a young bird six weeks 

 old I find one finger, the index or second, well developed 

 relatively to the small wing, with the normal number of 

 phalanges, and with a curved claw on the distal joint. The 

 " manus " is composed apparently of only two metacarpals. 



