ANATOMY OF MEGAPTERA LONGIMANA. 45 



of the hollow of the 2nd bone of digit III. The expanded 

 terminal cartilage of digit II. is opposite the proximal part of 

 the hollow of the 2nd bone of digit III. but not close to it. The 

 2nd bone of digit II. receives the first node of digit III. at the 

 proximal half, and is so excavated by it that the breadth of this 

 shaft is less than its thickness. The 3rd bone of digit II. 

 receives the 2nd node of digit III. at the distal half of its 

 hollow. Digit V. has so short a metacarpal bone, and begins so 

 much earlier at the carpus, that its first node lies even proximal 

 to the middle of the metacarpal of digit IV. The second node 

 is nearly opposite the first node of digit IV., its centre about an 

 inch beyond the centre of the latter, but the node is very flat on 

 the side next digit IV., and prominent on the free border. The 

 3rd node is opposite, but not close to, the distal part of the 

 hollow of the 2nd bone of digit IV., and is very prominent on 

 that side, but not on the free border. The hollow just be- 

 yond it corresponds to the 2nd node of digit IV. But digit V. 

 is not in close relation with digit IV, though its metacarpal 

 bone is not so divergent as that of digit V. is in the other 

 finners. 



Almost all the nodes which are on the free borders project 

 more, and also rise to a sharper point, like mountain peaks, on 

 the side next the free border. Exceptions to this were in the 

 3rd node of digit V. which, however, was H inch from contact, 

 and in the 3rd node of digit III., the one succeeding the great 

 terminal projection of digit II. For the most part the nodes in 

 relation with neighbouring digits lie pretty close to them, the 

 intervening spaces occupied by fatty and other soft tissues. 

 Digits III. and IV. were only about J inch from actual contact 

 with each other at the 4th and 5th nodes of each. At other 

 parts the interdigital space is wider, 1 to 2 or even 2| inches. 

 Between digits II. and III. the space averages an inch, increas- 

 ing distally. Digit V., after its 2nd node, is not near digit IV. 

 At the tip, digits III. and IV. are not close together, about 

 2|- inches apart. Digit III. projects 2 inches beyond digit 

 IV. though it is only 1 inch longer. It begins 1 inch later at 

 the carpus than digit IV. 



It would seem not improbable that the adaptation of these 

 alternating nodes and hollows may, from this cause alone, to 



