1902.] ON THE HAIR-SLOPE IN MAMMALS. 145 



variations in the Elk in various parts of Sibei'ia, it was most 

 unwise to assume on such shght evidence that non-palmation was 

 a constant character of even subspecific value. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Certain Habits o£ Animals traced in the Arrangement 

 of their Hair. By Walter Kidd, M.D., F.Z.S. 



[Received May 15, 1902.] 

 (Text-figures 28-31.) 



The subject now considered is limited by two conditions — 

 first, that only mammals with somewhat short hair can be 

 studied ; and, secondly, that only two groups of habits are of 

 sufficient j)i"evalence to bear upon the question. 



The bulk of the animals to be dealt with belong to the two 

 great ordei'S of Ungulates and Carnivores. A few Simiadfe will be 

 referred to, but other short-haired animals, such as Marsupials 

 and Rodents, do not lend themselves to this form of study. 



Certain of the habits common to all animals are divided into 

 Passive and Active. The former include those concerned with 

 the recumbent and the sitting positions, and the latter mainly 

 those of locomotion, with a few subordinate ones. 



I. Passive, (a) Recumhent Position. — The Ungulate, of which 

 one of the Bovidse may be taken as a type, adopts as its normal 

 attitude in rest only that of lying prone ; and such an animal lies 

 with head raised, either at or above the level of its trunk, fore-limbs 

 doubled so that the cai-pal joint is completely flexed, the hoof of one 

 side slightly everted, and that of the other, as a rule, under the 

 abdomen. The posterior poi'tion of the thorax and the abdomen 

 rest on the ground, but the pectoral region is raised by the fore- 

 Hmbs so as not to be in contact with it. The hinder poi'tion of 

 the body of the Ungulate seldom lies in the median plane, but 

 inclined to one side or the other, so that the lumbar and lower 

 dorsal portions of the spine are rotated, and this causes the hind- 

 limbs to be on one side, the metatarsal bones extended and in 

 contact with the ground, the " knee " of the animal strongly 

 flexed and closely applied to the inguinal region. 



In the attitude of complete rest, during sleep, the Ungulate 

 seems to lie in no constant attitude, stretched out on one or other 

 side. 



A typical and predominant attitude adopted by Carnivores in 

 lying is that the animal, e. g. a fox-terrier, when in a state of 

 partial rest, lies with its head elevated ; or in complete rest, with 

 head reposing on the fore-limbs, the ventral surface of the muzzle 

 in contact with the flexor surface of the radius and ulna. The 

 fore-limbs, in the case of the Carnivores, are planted in an 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1902, Yol. II. No. X. 10 



