13 a Skeleton of [Book IX. 



With refpect to the metacarpal bones, and thofe of 

 the fingers, they are fo nearly fimilar to thofe of the 

 metatarfus and toes, that nothing need be added con- 

 cerning them. 



The reader muft undoubtedly have been flruck 

 with the great refemblance of ftrufhire between the in- 

 ferior and ftiperior extremities. The os humeri has 

 many points of refemblance to the os femoris, the tibia 

 and fibula to the radius and ulna, and the bones of the 

 carpus, metacarpus, and fingers to thofe of the tarfus, 

 metatarfus, and toes. 



Before the anatomy of the bones, however, is con- 

 cluded, it will be proper to make a few general re* 

 marks on the fkeleton of quadrupeds. 



^In quadrupeds we obferve the fame general out* 

 lines of ftrufture in the ofleous fyftem as in man. 

 Their fkeletons divide themfelves into head, trunk, 

 and extremities ; and each of thefe divifions bears a 

 ftriking refemblance to the fame divifion in the fkele- 

 ton of the human body. The cavity of the cranium 

 is much fmaller in quadrupeds than in man, in pro- 

 portion to the other parts, but the bones of the face 

 are much longer ; and with refpect to this circum- 

 ftance, as well as many others, the monkey holds a 

 middle place between mankind and quadrupeds. 



The fpine, as in man, is connected to the cranium j 

 but in quadrupeds, this bony column, inftead of be- 

 ing placed vertically, is placed horizontally j in both, 

 however, the ftrticture is the fame, and the part is 

 fubfervient to the fame purpofes. The other parts of 

 the trunk are alfo very fimilar to the fame parts in 

 man j and the form and relative fituation of the fter- 

 num and ribs are nearly the fa -it but the latter are 

 more numerous in quadrup - ''.e fame refem- 



blance is manifefted in the bones of the pelvis, ex- 

 cept 



