TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 



745 



tion (hares), vacuolatiou (marsupials). The accompanying table explains 

 itself:— 



Mammalian Ma.villce. 



11. 



The Epiphyses of Long Bones (chiefly in Sauvopsids). 

 By Professor R. J. Anderson, M.D., M.A. 



The epiphyses of the long bones in man and mammalia attract the attention 

 of every student, who in human anatomy learn that the epiphysis first to ossify 

 is last to unite with the shaft, and (be nutrient artery is directed to the first 

 joining end, with one exception. The epiphyses in Sauropsids are rarely noticed 

 and not often referred to. The large cartilaginous extremities of avian long bones 

 are noteworthy. Ossific deposit in these is rarely observed. There seem to be 

 vicarious ossific deposits in birds and in tortoise?, owing to the cessation of motion 

 in certain regions. It is not always easy to get the most satisfactory period in 

 all birds. Mr. F. G. Parsons says that the upper end of the tibio-tarsus in Ratitie 

 and Gailinacese is the only example of true epiphysis in birds. This observer 

 puts this epiphysis to the credit of the ligament attached there. The transition 

 from tendon to cartilage and cartilage to bone is easy. The cartilaginous epiphysial 

 cones in the pigeon may be compared with the bony epiphysial cones of the 

 Sauropterygia. The tips of the former get gradually ossified. Calcification takes 

 place in most anura. A true bony deposit may take place, as in mammals and 

 some reptilia (Parsons). It seems probable that the sub-periosteal plastids may 

 work their way over the epiphysial ends. The lower end of the tibio-tarsus in a 

 turkey in the Galway Museum is not separate. The upper end is bony in part, and 

 this ossific deposit corresponds to the cnemial part. The tarsal part of the tarso- 

 metatarsus is distinguishable. The extremities of the phalanges seem differentiated 

 as if epiphyses were intended. There is a thick cartilaginous end to the ulna 

 above (apparently epiphysial). There is a distal cap on the second metacarpal. 

 Dr. Hugo Fiicha has given figures of the humerus of Varanus, in which the 

 proximal and distal epiphyses are well seen. The femur of Uromastix, with 

 head and trochanteric epiphyses, as well as distal epiphyses, are given by 

 the same author, who gives sections of the diaphysis and epiphysis to show 

 the nature of the bony epiphysial centres and the cartilage joining them. 

 FUchs mentions the cnemial epiphysis of Pihea, and notes Huxley's reference 



