lH/6.] MP. F. J. BELL ON MOSCHUS MOSCH1FERTJS. 18.1 



from each of which a tendon arises ; these three tendons unite into 

 one, strong and deeply situated, at the carpus. 



In the Sheep and Cervus, only two branches are formed by this 

 tendon, one for the third phalanx of each median digit ; but in 

 Moschus, shortly before reaching the metacarpophalangeal region, 

 there is given off from each side a delicate tendon, which is inserted 

 into the third phalanx of the second and fifth digits respectively ; 

 •while the remainder, scarcely diminished in size, passes through the 

 sheath afforded it by the tendons of the perforatus, shortly after its 

 own bifurcation. 



A similar arrangement obtains in Ilyomoschus, according to Chatin ; 

 in the Pig, however, the perforans is divided into four distinct branches. 

 There are no lumbrical or interosseous muscles, as might be inferred 

 from the structure of the bones of the manus. Hyo moschus has one 

 lumbrical and four interossei, as the Pig. 



II. Hind limb. 



The femur, as already stated, was removed, so that it was impossible 

 to note the origins of several muscles, as had been clone in the fore 

 limb ; but I saw nothing to lead me to suppose that there was any 

 variation from that which ordinarily obtains among Ruminants. 



On removing the skin and fascia, it was very easy to separate, on 

 the posterior side of the leg, in the tibial region, a large triangular 

 mass of muscle, terminating in a tendon, which seemed to be inserted 

 into the head of the process of the calcaneum, and then to pass on to 

 the digits. Such an appearance is common enough in the hind limbs 

 of Ungulates, and seems to have given rise to Prof. Owen's remark 

 that the gastrocnemius sends a tendon to the digits* — the fact 

 being, indeed, that the tendon which thus crosses, as described by 

 Owen, over the calcaneum, but which is not inserted into it, is that, 

 of theplantaris muscle, the arrangement of which was clearly pointed 

 out by Meckel f, in speaking of the Horse: — 



" Chez les solipedesle plantaire grele et le court jiechisseur commun 

 sont confondus ; ou, si l'on veut, le dernier estavorte. . . . Le tendon 

 du muscle se dirige d'abord au devant de celui du triceps clela jambe 

 [f. e. the gastrocnemius and soleus] ; arrive au calcaneum, il se place 

 derriere ce tendon, s'epanouit et s'insere a la grande apophyse de cet 

 os;j; ; puis il se prolonge en avant." 



By others, again, the soleus has been considered the muscle from 

 which the perforated tendon arises, as Chatin says§ : — 



" D'apres plusieurs auteurs, Stannius entre autres, le soleaire 



* " The chief peculiarity of the flexors of the digits of the hind foot in hoofed 

 quadrupeds is the accession of muscles not so applied in other mammals. Thus 

 the 'gastrocnemius.' besides its insertion into the heel-bone, sends a strong tendon 

 along the back of the metatarsal, to the phalanges, where it expands and bifur- 

 cates, each division again splitting for the passage of that of the 'flexor perforans' 

 before being inserted into the middle phalanges." — Anat. of Vertebrates, vol. iii. 

 p. 46. 



t Anat. Comp. French ed. vol. vi. p. 442. 



\ It would be more correct to say that at tbis point the tendon is surrounded 

 by a fibrous cap, inserted into the bone, whieb it has itself formed. 



§ Loc, cit. 



