104 GUIDE TO THP: AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



XIII. 



OSTEOLOGY OR SKELETONS. 



OSTEOLOGY is the Science which treats of the Bones. The 

 Skeletons in the Museum are in two rooms at the south end of 

 the ground tioor, called the Osteological Halls, and are arranged 

 as nearly as possible in accordance with the classification of 

 Yertelirates, as at present accepted, beginning on the left hand 

 side with the Human Skeletons. The animals, to which the 

 skeletons belong, are referred to in the chapters on Mammals, 

 Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, tfec, and need not be again noticed, but a 

 short description of a human skeleton is given, as MAN is the 

 highest type of a vertebrate animal, and it is desirable to have a 

 knowledge of the bones composing his skeleton in order properly 

 to understand the others. 



The following is a list of the bones in the Human Skeleton : — 



Vertebrae or Back-bones — Cervical 



or Neck Vertebrae, 7; Dorsal or Back 

 Vertebrae, 1 2 ; Lumbar or Loin Ver- 

 tebrae, 5 ; Sacral, and Coccygeal or 

 Caudal Vertebrae formed in youth 

 of 5 in the Sacrum, and 4 in the 

 Coccyx anchylosed in maturity, 2 ; 

 making in all 26 



Bones of the Head — 8 in the Cranium 

 and 14 in the Face, considered as 

 one piece, and the Lower Jaw as 

 another 2 



Tongue or Hyoid Bone, shaped some- 

 thing like the letter U 1 



Ribs — 12 on each side... 24 



Breast Bones (Sternum) — 2 large and 

 1 small, which Vjecome anchylosed 

 with age ,... 1 



