PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE AYE-AYE. 67 



outside, about halfway down the leg, but continues fleshy on the inside to near the 

 insertion into the calcaneum. A small ' plantaris ' fascicle sends its tendon by the side 

 of the OS calcis to the strong fascia covering the sole. 



The fiexor digitorum longus pedis (Pis. XXIV. & XXV. figs. 1 & 2, 32) arises from the 

 back part of the head of the fibula and the interosseous space. It forms a flattened 

 tendon behind the lower fourth of the tibia, which glides through a channel behind the 

 inner malleolus, expands beneath the tarsus, gives origin to the short flexors (PI. XXIV. 

 fig. 1, 36), sends ofi" a tendon (PI. XXV. fig. 2, m), which is joined by a tendon {ib. n) 

 from the flexor hallucis, to go to the second digit (/«') ; then proceeds a short way, 

 receives a second smaller tendon (ib. e) from the _^ea'or hallucis, and finally divides into 

 the flexor tendons of the three outer toes. The first of the short flexor muscles 

 (PI. XXIV. fig. 1 , 36) sends a long and slender tendon to the first phalanx of the fifth toe ; 

 the second {ib. 36), to that of the fourth toe ; whilst the third {ib. 36") is inserted into the 

 large and long flexor tendon continued from the muscle itself. 



The flexor longus hallucis (PI. XXIV. fig. 1, & PI. XXV. fig. 2, 31) arises from the back 

 part and inner ridge of the tibia, and from the interosseous space, halfway towards the 

 lower end of the bone. The fleshy fibres are continued on the inner surface to the 

 malleolar ligament ; the fleshy fibres on the outer side of the muscle, much higher up. 

 The tendon glides through the groove behind the inner malleolus, sends off a small tendon 

 (e) to join the division of the general flexor moving the three outer digits, and then 

 divides into the flexor tendon of the hallux {h) and a tendon (?i) joining that part of the 

 general flexor tendon from which the tendon of the second digit proceeds. Thus, the 

 major part of this muscle expends itself upon the flexion of the ordinary toes. These 

 junctions between theflexores digitorum and hallucis combine the two muscles in a common 

 action of grasping ; and the strength of the muscle, sending the long tendon to the hallux, 

 gives it the requisite power of rotating the foot, through that member, in a convenient 

 position for grasping. 



The tibialis anticus (PI. XXV. figs. 1 & .3, 21) arises from the upper half of the 

 fore and outer surface of the tibia, becomes tendinous towards the lower third of the 

 bone, glides through a pulley of the ligamentum transversum («), and is inserted into 

 the entocuneiforme. 



The peroneus longus (PI. XXV. figs. 1 & 3, 25) arises from the head and upper 

 two-thirds of the outer part of the fibula and contiguous part of the interosseous fascia, 

 becomes tendinous towards the lower fourth of the leg, passes, with the tendon of the 

 peroneus brevis, in the same sheath behind the outer malleolus, diverges to the cuboid, 

 winds round the outer part of that bone in a groove, and, crossing the bases of the three 

 middle metatarsals, is implanted into the base of that of the hallux. 



The peroneus brevis (PI. XXV. fig. 3, 26) lies beneath the peroneus longus {ib. 25), 

 arises from the lower two-thirds of the fibula, and from the aponeurotic septum between 

 it and the extensor digitorum (3;) ; its tendon passes through the same sheath, behind 



k2 



