OUTLINE OF THE STEUCTURE OF THE HORSE. 25 



space for the discussion of each of these divisions. We begin 

 with the general frame-work. In this division, although a 

 minute description of each part is foreign to our purpose, we 

 present the engraving of a very perfect skeleton, accurately 

 indexed for reference or investigation. 



The skeleton is composed of two hundred and forty-seven 

 separate bones, which are united by joints to form the spine, 

 thorax, pelvis, tail, and fore and hind extremities. The spine 

 is finished anteriorly by the head, which is divided into the 

 cranium, or skull, and face, and contains the teeth. Sus- 

 pended from the head is the os hyoides (bone of the tongue), 

 which completes the number of bones ; thus : 



The Spine consists of 7 cervical, 18 dorsal, and 6 lumbar vertebrae. 



Total 31 



The Thorax is made up of the dorsal vertebrae, with 18 ribs on each 



side, and the sternum in the middle. Total 37 



The Pelvis comprises 2 ossa innominata (or illium, ischium, and 



pubes), and 1 sacrum. Total 3 



The Tail contains, on the average, 17 bones. Total 17 



The Fore Extremity is made up on each side of the scapula, humerus, 

 OS brachii, and 8 carpal bones; 3 metacarpal, os suffraginis, os cor- 

 onas, OS pedis, 08 naviculare, 2 ossa sessamoidea. Total on both sides 40 

 The Hind Extremity has the femur, patella, tibia, fibula, 6 tarsal 

 bones, 3 metatarsals, os suffraginis, os coronas, os pedis, os navicu- 

 lare, 2 ossa sessamoidea. Total 38 



Bones of the Cranium 10 



Bones of the Face and Lower Jaws 18 



Teeth 40 



Bones of the internal Ear, four in each organ 8 



Os Hyoides, or Bone of the Tongue, made up of five sections 5 



Grand total 247 



The hoofs are the mud-sills of the frame-work, each hold- 

 ing — coffin-like — within its cavity the coffin-bone (os pedis), 

 which is the first bone in the leg. Next above this is the 

 lower pastern-bone, in front resting upon the coffin-bone 

 firmly and closely, but with an opening at the" back, which 

 admits a small bone, of a peculiar shape, called the navic:i- 

 lar — literally, ship-shaped — or shuttle-bone (os naviculare). 



