48 THE ARTISTIC ANATOMY OF ANIMALS 



then, to incline strongly tlie hand downwards and back- 

 wards, moving the ulnar border of the hand towards 

 the ulna ; the thumb is then anterior, the little finger 

 posterior, and the palm of the hand is turned towards the 

 trunk. 



The carpus in birds is formed by two bones only, with 

 which the skeleton of the forearm articulates. That 

 which is in contact with the radius is called the radial hone 

 of the carpus ; and that with which the ulna articulates 

 is named the ulnar hone. 



The metacarpus is formed of three bones ; the first, 

 which is very short, is fused at its superior extremity with 



Fig. 32. — Superior Limb of the Human Being, the Different 

 Segments being placed in the Attitude which the Corre- 

 sponding Parts occupy in Birds : Left Side, External Surface. 



the adjoining one ; this latter and the third, both longer than 

 the first, but of unequal size, are fused at their extremities. 

 The metacarpal, which articulates with the radial bone of 

 the carpus, is larger than the one which is in line with the 

 ulna. To the metacarpus succeed three digits, of which the 

 central is the longest, and is formed of two phalanges ; the 

 other two are formed each by a small, stylet-shaped bone. 

 The middle finger, situated on the prolongation of the 

 metacarpal, which articulates with the radial bone of the 

 carpus, has its first phalanx large and flattened transversely ; 

 this phalanx seems to have been formed by the union of 

 two bones of unequal development ; the second phalanx 



