38 THE MAMMALIA. 



of the human subject, where the contrast between 

 hand and foot has advanced in a very striking 

 manner. Our foot has remained an organ of sup- 

 port, our hand has become the organ for grasping. 

 The fibula, which corresponds to the ulna, is 

 reduced, the tibia is the principal bone. The parts 

 of the fore limb called the radiale and intermedium 

 (r, i) have generally coalesced into the spring- 

 bone (astragalus), and the bone of the root of the 

 foot attached to the fibula the ulnare of the hand 

 becomes the heel-lone (calcaneus), and is distin- 

 guished by a strongly-developed continuation at 

 the back; the centrale exists as the skiff-bone 

 (naviculare). The first three bones of the middle 

 foot are called the wedge-shaped bones (1, 2, 3, 

 cuneiforme), the fourth and fifth bones of the 

 middle foot have united and form the cube-bone 

 (cuboideum). 



In accordance with this scheme we shall find 

 that the different mammals show a similar contrast 

 in hand and foot less in the fingers and toes 

 than in the roots of the hand and foot. It will be 

 our endeavour to bring this subject prominently 

 forward in the course of our discussion. 



It will also be shown that the dentition stands 

 in as close a relation with the whole organisation 



