THE PENTADACTYL TYPE. 137 



will be present. A posterior extremity embraces a 

 haunch bone, a femur, tibia and fibula, tarsal and 

 metatarsal bones, and phalanges ; and when five toes 

 are fully developed, as many metatarsal bones exist, 

 and the fibula is present. But if two digits disappear, 

 there is a corresponding shrinkage in the metatarsus, 

 and a dwindling effect manifested in the fibula. 



The Simian thumb is not opposable to all the 

 fingers it is dwarfed and imperfect ; and in the in- 

 ferior animals this digit is the first to shrink and dis- 

 appear. The fifth or " little finger " is occasionally 

 rudimentary, yet it puts in an appearance oftener than 

 the pollex, or first digit. The third and fourth dig- 

 its not unfrequently attain gigantic proportions, and 

 usually at the expense of the other digits. The hal- 

 lux, or "great toe," is functionally important in the 

 monkey, but it is apt to shrink and vanish in the lower 

 animals. The raccoon, which is anatomically allied to 

 the monkey, and exhibits many Simian freaks of char- 

 acter, possesses five digits upon each pedal extremity. 

 The opossum is also pentadactyl, and the hallux is 

 placed at right angles with, and is opposable to, the 

 other four digits ; it has a short and thick terminal phal- 

 anx that bears no nail. Foxes, dogs, wolves, and hyenas, 

 possess four functional toes which reach the ground, 

 and a rudimentary digit of greater or less develop- 

 ment, which bears a nail, but does not come to the 

 ground, nor havo any functional importance ; and this 

 dwarfed toe is on the inside of the carpus or tarsus, 

 where the most important digit exists in man. 



All the feline race are pentadactyl, yet the first 

 digit in each foot is rudimentary and mostly devoid of 

 function. Minks, otters, and beavers exhibit five dig- 

 its on each foot ; and so do many of the great aquatic 



