MAMMALIA. 647 



nally to have been solidified into one bony mass; which, being 

 encased in a single dense and horny hoof, is not only strong 

 enough to support the weight of the quadruped, and to sustain 

 the shock produced by its most active and vigorous leaps, but 

 becomes abundantly efficient to carry additional burdens, or to 

 draw heavy loads in the service of mankind. 



In the anterior extremity of a Soliped (Jig. 301) the shoulder 

 consists only of the scapula, there being no clavicle to connect it 

 with the sternum. The humerus is short and very strong: the 

 radius and ulna are partially consolidated together, so that all 

 movements of pronation and supination are impossible. The car- 

 pus is composed of seven short bones disposed in two rows. The 

 metacarpus is a single bone (the cannon bone), which, from its 

 length and size, is commonly called the " fore-leg" of the horse ; 

 the carpo-metacarpal articulation being looked upon as the " knee." 

 Lastly, the foot consists of three great phalanges ; whereof the 

 proximal is named the " pastern" the second the "coronary" and 

 the distal phalanx the " coffin bone" In the macerated skeleton, 

 however, the vestiges of two other toes are visible ; but they 

 are merely rudiments resembling osseous splints attached to each 

 side of the metacarpus or cannon bone. 



In the posterior limbs of the Horse the same peculiarities are 

 observable, both in the construction of the leg and foot. 



(728.) The RUMINANTIA constitute another order of qua- 

 drupeds of very great importance to mankind, distinguished by 

 their remarkable habit of chewing the cud ; that is, of bringing 

 up the food again from the stomach into the mouth, for the pur- 

 pose of undergoing a second process of mastication. They all 

 have well-developed incisor teeth in the lower jaw, but none in the 

 upper. The patient and thirst-enduring Camel, the stately Giraffe, 

 the Ox, the Sheep, the Goat, the nimble Antelope, and the fleet and 

 elegant Stag, are all examples of this extensive order ; but it is the 

 skeleton of the last-mentioned alone that we shall select for de- 

 lineation Og. 302). 



The most remarkable feature observable in the Ruminant order 

 of quadrupeds is, that, with the exception of the Camel tribe and 

 the Musk-deer, the males, and sometimes the females, are provided 

 with two horns attached to the os frontis, appendages not met 

 with in any other Vertebrata. In some, as the Giraffe, these 

 horns consist merely of a bony protuberance developed from each 

 frontal bone, which is coated with a hairy skin derived from the 



