298 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT 



being about two and a half inches apart and an inch 

 behind the elbow, and the hindmost pair opposite the 

 thighs and rather more than an inch apart.] >A. 



C. The Limbs. 



1. The fore-limbs, as far as the elbows, are closely applied 



to the sides of the thorax, and hidden by the skin of 

 the trunk. The several bones of the shoulder-girdle 

 and limb, which have already been studied on the 

 skeleton, can be readily identified by feeling them 

 through the skin. The palmar surface of the paw 

 is hairy : the innermost digit or pollex is shorter than 

 the others, not reaching the ground. All the digits 

 bear claws. 



2. The hind-limbs are much longer than the fore-limbs. The 



pelvic girdle and the several bones of the limb can 

 be felt through the skin. In the foot the innermost 

 digit or hallux is absent, and the remaining four are 

 long and clawed. The plantar surface or sole of the 

 foot is hairy. 



II. DISSECTION OF THE BUCCAL CAVITY. 



Remove the skin from the head and neck. Lay the rabbit 

 on its right side : insert one blade of the scissors into its 

 mouth, and cut back through the cheek on the left side between 

 the upper and lower teeth : continue the cut backwards across 

 the jaw with bone forceps and scissors : turn the lower jaw 

 down, so as to expose the buccal cavity fully ; and wash freely . 



I. The roof of the mouth. 



a. The palate, or median part of the roof, is long and 

 narrow, and separates the buccal from the nasal 

 cavity. Its anterior half, the hard palate, is 

 raised into hard, transverse ridges, against which 

 the tongue works : the posterior half, or the soft 

 palate, is smooth and soft, and ends behind in a 

 free notched border, nearly opposite the angle of 

 the jaw. 



