iv^o. r>.J SIIUFELDT ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF EREMOPIIILA. 147 



«us by a lif^ament, articulating beyond with the hallux. It represents the 

 first metatarsal, and has all the appearances of one of the larger-sized 

 phalangeal segments, divided obliquely through the shaft, with the cut 

 surface closed in and forming the articular surface for the tarso-meta- 

 tarsus. Its position, in situ, is figured in PI. IV, Fig. 44. The lower and 

 expanded end of the tarso-metatarsus, bearing the trochlear of the re- 

 maining phalanges, is further conspicuous for the marked manner in 

 which the bone is compressed antero-posteriorly, causing the trochlear 

 -ends to be placed side by side, transversely. The middle one is the 

 larger and grooved entirely round, the one for the second toe being 

 slightly the higher and bent a little outwards ; finally, the fourth is the 

 smallest. Slit -like spaces among these " processes " completely divide 

 them. 



The joints of the toes are arranged upon the most common plan, and, 

 we believe, upon, the general rule for all Oscines; i. e., the hallux -pos- 

 sesses two phalanges, second toe three, third toe four, and the outer and 

 last toe five. 



These joints are not impressed with any thing particularly remarkable, 

 beyond what is found in them among the class generally. Their verti- 

 cally cleft and anterior extremities articulate with the joint beyond, 

 which is diminished in size and articulates in like manner with the next 

 anterior segment. 



The claws are grooved laterally, and show a process at their proximal 

 and lower aspects. 



A glance at P1.1Y, Fig. 22, will be sufficient to satisfy ourselves that 

 the great length of the claw of the hind toe sometimes seen in JEJremo- 

 pMla, and always characteristic, is due almost entirely to the growth of 

 the horny theca that encases it, and not to the length of the osseous 

 claw. 



• In the figure just referred to, the hallux, with the first metatarsal, has 

 been drawn b ackwards in the skeleton, not only to show the os meta- 

 tarsale accessorium, but also a sesamoid, of no mean size, that is found 

 on its outer side, an ossicle that betrays its possessor and declares the 

 habit he has of spending a good share of his time upon the ground. 



