238 MR. W. P. PYCRAFT ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND 



epiphysis is the more complete in that it affords an articular surface for the femur. 

 I will not comment further upon the matter here as I have the subject still under 

 investigation. 



MYOLOGY. 



The musculature of the Archwopalatinw is now well known, thanks to the researches 

 of Beddard, Fiirbringer, Gadow, Garrod, Haughton, Meckel, Owen, Parker, and others. 

 So well have these been done, that, gleaning late in the day, I have but little to add. 

 It must not be supposed, however, from this, that the subject is now quite exhausted. 

 On the contrary, many points yet await investigation ; mention of these finds no place 

 here, however, either because material for this paper was lacking or the points appeared 

 to be of little or no value so far as it was concerned. 



The Skin-muscles. 



The dermal muscles appear to be most strongly developed in Apteryx. 



Casuarius and Dromceus appear to be peculiar in that they possess a strongly 

 developed dermo-dorsalis. In a Casuarius unappendiculatus this extended from the 

 base of the skull down the skin of the neck and back along the middle line. At the 

 base of the neck the muscle gives place to tendon, which, becoming rapidly stronger, 

 is inserted, by means of numerous long, coarse, tendinous fibres, along the back as far 

 as the pre-acetabular ilium. 



The Muscles of the Wing and Shoulder-girdle. 



To the loss of flight we may attribute the absence of many muscles found in 

 'Neoqnathoe. Furthermore we must regard this loss as one of considerable antiquity, 

 since the flightless members of the Neognathce exhibit no such reduction in the number 

 of the muscles concerned in this form of volition. 



Mr. Beddard [7] has given an admirable summary of the missing wing-muscles of 

 the Palceognathx. They are the pectoralis propatagialis, biceps propatagialis, 

 deltoides propatagialis, deltoides minor (excluding Apteryx), scapulo-humeralis anterior, 

 and expansor secundariorum. Concerning the last mentioned, traces occur in the 

 wing of Rhea (see fig. 5 a, p. 240). 



The form of flexor carpi ulnaris of Rhea is extremely interesting, as will be seen by 

 a comparison of the accompanying figures (pp. 240, 241). 



It will be noticed that in Rhea (fig. 5 a) this muscle is divided into two parts : 

 (1) a pre-axial ribbon-shaped and partly tendinous, which is inserted on to the ulnare, 

 and (2) a post-axial, much larger, strap-shaped, fleshy portion inserted on to the 

 1st metacarpo-digital remex. The post-axial border of this hinder strap-shaped 

 portion is bounded by a narrow thread of tendon — a rudimentary vinculum elasticum. 



