AVEs. ^l5 



ttttoT transverse processes, long and slender, being directed downwards and 

 forwards ; the articular processes are almost as prominent as the neural spines,' 

 the prominent portions being termed the mammillary processes (meta- 

 pophyses), and they may be traced anteriorly into the dorsal region ; they 

 giva attachment to poitions of the longissimus dorsi muscle. The anterior 

 costal tubercles, prclonged and sharpened, likewise aflford attachment to th^t 

 uiuscle. The sternebrcs are five in number, the presternum being very long 

 <ind cariniform in shape. 



In the skull we note the unusual length of the zygomatic process of the malar 

 ■bone, and absence of a frontal arch, which is represented by a short bifid process. 

 The optic foramina unite to form a single passage leading from one orbital 

 fossa to tlia other. The diastema and ihcisiv-e openings are both very large, 

 ot^d latera^.y the siipcrior maxilla is incompletely ossified, giving an irregular 

 ck'lbi'ated appearance to the bone ; the bony palate is exceedingly short. The 

 fiiiiitory bulla and external meatus are well marked. "The long axis of the 

 ciaxillary condyle is .placed longitudinally, and the coronoid process is very 

 ^iiiall and far below the level of the condyle, while at the angle of the jaw^ 

 there is a prominent roughened ridge or spine. There are no canine teeth, 

 and tvro chisel-shaped incisors exist in each jaw ; in the upper jaw of thft 

 sabbit and hare there are also two very small incisors placed immediately 

 ijcfdnd the large ones. 



!-• J' PPENDICULAR SKELETON. 



i 



The scapula has a very large acromion process which projects backwards, 

 Utrching over the postea-spinatus fossa. There is a small clavicle, but it is 

 xucomplete. The coronoid and condyloid fossae of the humerus are connected 

 fc»y a foramen. The ulna is complete, reaching to the carpus, .but there is no 

 motion between it and the radius, and the extremity is therefore proni. There 

 are five digits, one of which represents the pollex or thumb. The pelvis ia 

 broad and shallow, the ischial arch deep, and the obturator foramen large. 

 The femur has, like that of the horse, a third or minor trochanter ; also two 

 well-marked fabellss. The tibia and fibula are anchylosed, the former bone 

 being very long. The astragalus resembles that of the carnivora. There are 

 ive digits, includins the hallux. 



AVES. 



The scope of the present work will allow only very brief treatment of this 

 -part of the subject. We shall, therefore, merely name a few of those features 

 in which the skeleton of the bird difi"ers in a marked manner from the 

 aiammalian type. 



The vertebrae vary greatly in number, the cervical in some classes number- 1 

 ing over 20, and never less than 8. Small cervical ribs exist in the young 

 animal, which in age may become anchylosed to the vertebrae, and in the 

 dorsal region osseous splints unite the successive transverse processes. On th* 

 posterior edge of each rib, except the first and last, is a process called the pro^ 

 -ce&sus uncviiatuSf which overlaps the succeeding rib. The sternum is a singlft 



