Liberia *»- 



the metatarsal, answering to the bones in our hands and feet, 

 instead of being two in number to match the two functional 

 toes, are fused into a single bone, though there is in the ox the 

 trace of a division up the middle of what is termed the "cannon 

 bone." In many ruminants, however, there is not even the 

 trace of an original division between these two bones, which are 

 completely fused together. The oxen, sheep, antelopes, and 

 especially the deer have vestiges on the sides of their cannon 

 bones of the metatarsals and metacarpals of the side toes — that 

 is to say, the second and fifth toes. Sometimes these vestiges 

 are mere nodules of bone above the little side hoofs ; in other 

 instances they are slender splints, either growing upwards from 

 the side toes to a vanishing-point half-way up the cannon bone, 

 or starting from the wrist and heel joints and only descending 

 half-way down the cannon bone from above. But the interesting 

 feature above all in the West African Dorcatherium (for it is less 

 markedly developed in the Asiatic members of the family) is 

 that this animal retains complete and distinct all its four metacarpal 

 and metatarsal bones, so that it is actually a four-toed animal 

 like the pig. The bones of the hind-feet, it is true, are ap- 

 proaching a condition of fusion. The two side metatarsals are 

 tucked away at the back of the two middle metatarsals, so that 

 the hind-feet are as slender and compact in outward appearance 

 as those of a deer. The fore-feet are likewise very slender and 

 elegant, but the side metatarsals are more separate and distinct 

 in development. 



The Water Chevrotain nevertheless appears to walk on the 

 edges or tips of its middle hoofs, and the side toes never touch 

 the ground in normal progression. 



It is perhaps needless to remark that the Dorcathsrium, 

 like the rest of its family, has no horns ; but the male develops 

 what are possibly weapons of offence in the upper canine teeth. 



724 



