100 MESSRS. WATSON AND YOUNG ON THE [Jail. 1-4, 



pisiform bone and from the annular ligament ; the fibres terminate on 

 a tendon whicli, after being pierced by the deep flexor tendon uf the 

 fifth digit, is inserted into the second phalanx of that digit, and con- 

 sequently represents its superficial flexor tendon. A similar but 

 smaller muscular slip runs to the fourth toe, and joins the superficial 

 flexor tendon. 



Somewhat analogous is the condition elaborately described by 

 Meckel in H. striata — the palmar accessory slips, however, not being 

 confined to the two outer digits as in the Civet, but running to all 

 four, each tendon of the superficial flexor thus receiving an additional 

 slip. In H. striata, it is to be noted, the accessory slips are alto- 

 gether tendinous, apparently springing simply as offsets from tbe 

 expansion of palmarii longus. They do not possess the muscular 

 portions so well marked in the case of the Civet. 



There is no representative in H. crocuta of the flexor longus 

 poUicis described by Meckel as existing in H. striata. 



Lximbricales are four in number. All arise from the palmar 

 surface of the common deep flexor tendon, and pass to be attached to 

 tbe deeper aspect of the superficial flexor tendons. The nature of 

 this peculiar attachment of the lumbricals is apparently the same in 

 H. striata, and is to be found figured in Cuvier and Laurillard's 

 'Recueil,' pi. 141. fig. 3. 



In the hand, the pollex, as in //. striata, is deprived of any 

 special muscles ; the little finger is furnished with an abductor mi- 

 nimi dic/iti ; this, from the pisiform bone, joins the extensor-expansion 

 on dorsal aspect of first phalanx of fifth digit. This muscle also 

 exists in the Civet. According to Douglas it is wanting in the Dog. 

 In this latter animal Douglas avers the presence of a small flexor and 

 an oppouens of the pollex. 



The interossei muscles are strong and well developed, their 

 arrangement being very similar in Carnivora generally. In H. cro- 

 cuta a deep set comprises eight fleshy bundles arranged in pairs, two 

 to each metacarpal, situated rather on the palmar aspect of these ; 

 they arise from their proximal ends, and pass to the sides of the 

 bases of the first phalanges, reaching as far as the extensor-tendon. 



In addition to these paired muscles are two single ones (palmar 

 interossei). These arise together from the bases of the third and 

 fourth metacarpals. They are distributed to the middle and outermost 

 digits respectively. 



Muscles of the Hind Limbs. 



In Carnivores generally the gluteus maximus (e.vternus) is more 

 or less divisible into two parts — this, as observed by Meckel, being 

 especially well marked in H. striata. 



In //. crocuta a similar disposition holds good — the anterior part 

 of the muscle, thin and flat, springing from the spines of the poste- 

 rior sacral vertebrae, and passing to the fascia lata, whilst the posterior 

 moiety, forming a perfectly distinct elongated and fusiform bundle, 

 springs from the transverse processes of the three anterior caudal 



