116 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN. 



and increase in size towards the extremities, at 

 the joints ; but tbe muscles are usually the 

 reverse of this. They are largest towards the 

 middle of the bones, and grow smaller towards 

 their extremities. 



We have a striking example of what I have 

 just stated in the case of the arms. The bones 

 of the arm, as seen in the skeleton, are so 

 large at the joints and so small in the middle, 

 as to make the limb appear almost frightful. 

 But when we come to see it dressed up with 

 muscles and covered with the skin, it is very 

 well proportioned. The elbow in most persons 

 is scarcely larger than the arm is, both above 

 and below it. Now this is done by means, as 

 I have said before, of the muscles. They are 

 larger where the bones are smaller, and grow 

 smaller till they come near the joints, where 

 they run into tendons. 



But before I go farther, I must tell you what 

 muscles and tendons are. 



THE MUSCLES. The muscles are the flesh, 

 T mean the lean part of it. They are of a 

 reddish color, as you have probably observed. 



