THE SKELETON OF THE NEWT. PELVIC GIRDLE. 149 



has three. The second metacarpal in the specimen examined 

 and figured articulates partly with carpale 2, partly with 

 carpale 3. 



C. THE PELVIC GIRDLE. 



The pelvic girdle of the Newt is in a much less modified 

 condition than is that of the Frog (see p. 165). It consists 

 of a dorsal element, the ilium, a posterior ventral element, 

 the ischium, and an anterior ventral element, the pubis, to 

 which is attached an epipubis. 



The ilium is a somewhat cylindrical bone which at its 

 ventral end meets the ischium, and forms part of the ace- 

 tabulum. It is then directed upwards and slightly back- 

 wards, and is attached to the ribs of the sacral vertebra. 



The ischia are a pair of somewhat square bones which 

 meet one another in the middle line ; they form part of the 

 acetabulum, and are united to the ilia above. 



In front of the ischia is a narrow cartilaginous area which 

 represents the pubes. Projecting forwards from it is a bifid 

 cartilaginous epipubis. 



D. THE POSTERIOR LIMB. 



This is divisible into a proximal portion, the thigh, a 

 middle portion, the crus or shin, and a distal portion, the 

 pes. 



The thigh consists of a single bone, the femur (fig. 23, A,l), 

 which has a thin shaft and expanded ends. The anterior 

 part of the pre-axial border and posterior part of the postaxial 

 border bear slight outgrowths. 



The'crus or shin includes two short bones, the tibia and 

 fibula, which are nearly equal in length. The pre-axial bone 

 or tibia is a straight bone thickest at its proximal end, the 

 postaxial bone or fibula (fig. 23, A, 3) is a rather stouter 

 curved bone of nearly equal diameter throughout. 



The pes includes the tarsus or ankle, and the foot. 



