1888.] and Skeleton of the Hind Limb in the Chick, 



331 



part corresponding to the reptilian pubis has dwindled down into 

 the pectineal process of the pubis in the adult forms of the higher 

 types. These results may be tabulated as follows : — 



The skeleton of the hind limb is at first represented by a single 

 axial mass, extending for about half the length of the limb. In 

 the next stage, all the chief elements of the skeleton — Humerus, 

 Tibia, Fibula, Tarsus, and five distal cartilages — are apparent, but 

 perfectly continuous with one another. Later, the cartilaginous 

 centres appear. Of these, there are three in the tarsus, two in the 

 proximal aud one in the distal segment. The two proximal, the 

 Tibiale and Fibulare, fuse first with one another, and later with 

 the Tibia, while the distal segment fuses with the metatarsals. 

 The five distal cartilages of the limb grow and segment, giving rise 

 to the phalanges of the digits, as well as to the metatarsals. The 

 first metatarsal is at first continuous with the tarsus, but afterwards 

 splits off from it and is carried downwards with the growth of the 

 foot, till it lies at some distance from the tarsus. 



At the end of last year Baur 1 published an account of the 

 tarsus of Dinosaurs and the development of the Bird's tarsus. 

 With regard to the latter point, my own results (which were com- 

 pleted before I had seen his paper) agree with his in every detail, 

 except that he describes the first metatarsal as originating at a 

 distance from the tarsus, and never coming into any connection 

 with it. My investigations into the development of the pelvic 

 girdle also fully bear out his conclusions as to the close relation ex- 

 isting between Birds and Dinosaurs. 



(4) On the nitrogenous reserve-materials in parts of plants other 

 than seeds. By M. 0. Pottek, B.A. 



It has long been known that the organs of plants which serve 

 as depositories of reserve material, contain considerable quantities 

 of nitrogenous organic substances. In the case of seeds, it has 

 been ascertained that the nitrogenous organic substance is of the 

 nature of proteid, for the most part deposited in the form o\' 

 definite grains termed Aleurone grains, but our information con- 



1 G. Baur, "Tarsus tier Vogel and der Dinosauricr. " Morphologisches Jahrbueh. 

 Band 8. Heft 3. 1882. 



VOL. IV. PT. VI. 



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