424 SKELETON OF THE FOWL. 



these the two proximal carpals persist in the adult, 

 while those of the distal row fuse with the meta- 

 carpals. The wrist- joint thus lies in the carpus, and 

 not between the forearm and carpus, as in the 

 rabbit. 

 The proximal row of carpals consists of two small 

 irregular bones : 

 i. The radiale lies between the end of the radius 



and the manus. 

 ii. The ulnar e is a larger, more irregular bone, 

 which articulates proximally with the ulna, 

 and is notched distally to receive the carpo- 

 metacarpus. It is very freely movable. 



4. The manus. In the embryo there are three separate meta- 

 carpals. It is not certain whether they correspond 

 to those of the three outer, middle, or inner digits. 

 In the adult they fuse together, and with the distal 

 row of carpals, to form the carpo-metacarpus. A 

 small nodule of cartilage to the outer side of these 

 disappears completely, or, according to some autho- 

 rities, fuses with the postaxial metacarpal. 



a. The carpo-metacarpus is an elongated bone, in which 



the three component metacarpals can easily be 

 distinguished, 

 i. The preaxial metacarpal is very short and 

 stumpy, forming a small projection on the pre- 

 axial side of the proximal end of the bone, 

 ii. The middle-metacarpal is a stout straight bone, 

 enlarged at its ends, and giving off near its 

 proximal end a process from its ulnar side, 

 iii. The postaxial metacarpal is slightly curved, 

 'and is more slender than the middle one, with 

 which it is fused at both ends. 



b. The phalanges. 



i. The preaxial digit has two phalanges, the ter- 

 minal one being small. 



