RUMINANT QUADRUl'EDS. 445 



and the Ox, which toss their heads with force, and 

 especially in the males, which are armed with 

 antlers or horns, the muscles performing these 

 motions are remarkably strong, and the spinous 

 processes of the back particularly prominent. In 

 the loins, on the contrary, we find the transverse 

 processes more enlarged, for the purpose of giving 

 a powerful mechanical purchase to the muscles 

 which are inserted into them. 



The chest of ruminant quadrupeds is compressed 

 laterally, in order to allow room for the unrestrained 

 motions of the anterior extremity ; and the sternum 

 projects so as to resemble the keel of a ship. The 

 bones of the anterior extremity are not joined to 

 the rest of the skeleton by means of any bone cor- 

 responding to a clavicle ; but they are connected 

 with the spine and ribs only by ligaments and 

 muscles ; so that the fore part of the trunk is, in 

 fact, suspended between the limbs by its muscular 

 attachments alone. This is not the case with the 

 hind extremities ; for their bones commence with 

 the pelvis, which proceeds backwards from the 

 sacrum, but with a considerable inclination down- 

 wards, and has a deep hemispherical cavity for the 

 lodgement of the round head of the thigh bone. 

 The lengthened forms of the iliac bones, and also of 

 the scapula, provide for the application of muscles 

 of considerable length, which are consequently 

 capable of communicating to the parts they move 

 a greater velocity than could have been effected 

 by muscles of equal strength, but with shorter 

 fibres. 



Both the humerus in front, and the femur behind, 

 are so short as to a[)pear, on a superficial view, to 



