MR. J. C. GALTON ON DASYPUS SEXCINCTUS. 561 



4 







inner of the two branches of its fibular fellow, while its inner branch is despatched t< 



the middle toe, there to join the expansion of its tibial comrade over the proximal pha 

 lanx of this digit. 



The last or tibial tendon divides at a much higher point than do the two preceding 

 this division taking place at about the end of the iirsi half of the metatarsal of the middle 

 digit; immediately, however, before doing this, it receives on it- inferior surface tin 

 middle of the three divisions of the extensor brevis. It then divides into two branche 

 the outer of which reaches eventually the distal phalanx of the middle diuit, receiving, 

 however, at its lateral expansion over the proximal phalanx of this digit, the inner branch 

 of the middle tendon of the extensor communis. The second, or innermost branch of 

 the tibial tendon reaches at last the distal phalanx of the second digit; but, at its lateral 

 expansion over the proximal phalanx, it receives a thin, bat comparatively broad band 

 given off from the middle of the convexity of its curved offset to the tendon of the 

 extensor proprius hallucis. This offset leaves the last-described branch of the tibial 

 tendon of the extensor communis at the point where it diverges from the outer branch 

 of the same tendon, and may be regarded as a third branch of the tendon. It is joined 

 at its origin by the innermost of the three divisions of the extensor brevis, and, after 

 giving off the flat band mentioned above, is continued into the tendon of tin- extensor 



proprius hallucis. 



The extensor communis in the Ai, according to Meckel 1 , has an amphibian peculiarity, 

 in that it does not reach as far as the toes, but is attached by a strong single tendon to 

 the middle of the middle metatarsal. 



It is stated in Cuvier's ' Le9ons ' that the common extensor of the toes, in most Rodents 

 and Edentates, besides other animals, takes origin by a tendon from the external condyle 



of the femur 2 . 



Cuvier's representation of the termination of the tendons of this muscle, in one of his 

 figures of the myology of Dasypus, is not distinct enough to allow of the determination 



of its correctness or the reverse 3 . 



Extensor brevis digitorum. — An entirely fleshy muscle, which arises from the upp< t 



half of the whole length of the calcaneal process, on the external aspect of the bone, 



being bounded below by a line joining the peroneal tubercle and the free extremity of 



the process. It passes forwards, being arched over by a ligament which is extended 



between the Outer malleolus and the tubercle mentioned above, and by the tendons of 



the peronei muscles, and, on gaining the dorsum of the foot, divides into three fusiform 



slips of equal size, which take an oblique direction from without inwards, and join two 



of the three tendons into which the common extensor divides, at a little beyond the first 



half of their course, and slightly posterior to their ramifications. 



The outer of the three slips passes to the middle of the above tendons ; the middle slip 



joins the inner or tibial one ; while the inner slip passes to the curved transverse branch 



which the tibial tendon gives off to join the tendon of the extensor proprius hallucis. 



1 Op. cit. p. 641. 2 Loc. cit. p. 535. 3 Anat. Comp. pi. L'59. fig. 2. 



