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t)R. J. MURIE ON THE THREE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 123 



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assumes. There appear to be five bony segments in all, a number less by one than in 

 most Armadillo genera. The anterior and posterior are fair-sized, the intermediate 

 ossicles small, the 4th especially so. The stout manubrium (pr^esternum) is shghtly 

 keeled, emarginate anteriorly, or with short claYicular forks. Besides articulations for 

 1st and 2nd ribs, there are additional facets at the rear outer border for the 3rd ribs- 

 further a slightly concave articular surface, which receives the convexity of the second 

 piece (mesosternum) . This opisthocoelous sternal joint corresponds to the Glyptodon 

 condition, commented on by M. Serres and others S and by Serres presumed to be a 

 mechanism concerned in head-retraction. In the embryo Dasypinse, however, Parker has 

 proved {I. c. p. 206) that it is the rule rather than the exception. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th 

 sternal bones, each octagonal-figured, diminish serially. They are articulated synovially 



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with four ribs apiece. The 4th diminutive segment is barely visible ventrally, being 

 partially overlapped by the 6th costse. The xiphoid resembles a flattened caudal 

 vertebra, but with an outspread cartilaginous apex. It freely articulates by a double 

 concave facet upon the posterior tuberous surfaces of the inner ends of the Gth sternal 

 ribs, which meet and exclude opposition with the 4th mesosternal ossicle. The joint is 

 a true ginglymus ; and when the viscera are pressed forwards the xiphoid is thrown down- 

 wards and forwards. 



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3. Pectoral and Pelvic Limbs. 



The clavicle is exactly an inch long. It is a thin, uniformly slender rod, with a slight 

 middle forward curve ; the inner moiety is flattened towards the ribs, the outer reversely 

 so, or anteroposteriorly compressed. The truncate acromial end is a trifle cxpnndcd, the 

 opposite tapering ; and this latter is connected with the manubrium through the interven- 

 tion of a flexible cartilaginous bar, 0*2 inch long. It is mainly the presence of this pliant 

 sternal attachment that determines the great freedom of motion of tlic scapula &c. 

 The shoulders being thus readily thrust forwards, conveniently permit of packing and 

 infolding of the limbs, consentaneous with curvature of the body. 



My illustrations of the segments of the limbs of T. conurus elicit the characteristic 

 points, and, with Owen's remarks on T. tricmctus\ supply what is wanting in detail. 



oerres, ijompt. Kend., May and June i»t)i); nuxiey, 

 ilarch 1866 ; Burmeister, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1866, &c. 



Journ. Anat. ct PhpsioL 



Fore Leg. 



Scapula.-" The clavicular lialf of the long acromion is an epiphysis. The coracoid is short and obtuse. There is 

 a tubercle beneath the glenoid cavity. The suprascapular element is represented by a subtriangular coarsely ossified 

 cartilage attached to the base of the scapula " (231 0). 



Hume 



rus. 



« 



curved 



above the inner condyle '' (2300). 



Manxis,—'' The 



with the metacarpal 



metacarpal 



the index is ..edged between that metacarpal, the trapezoides, and the trapezium. Tlie unciform^ also supports part 

 of the middle metacarpal, as weU as the short cubical metacarpus of the fourth finger and the rudiment of that of the 

 fifth. The index dirit has three nhalan^es. The medius and anflularis have each two, and resemble each other m 



Specimen is the very 



grea 



The chief peculiarity. 



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