20 STUDIES IN COMPAEATIVE ANATOMY. 



unalterable mass. There are, as has been pointed out, tendinous 

 or Kgamentous attachments which restrain the independent 

 action of some of these muscles; but anatomical examination 

 would lead us to suppose that the living animal could, at aU 

 events, accurately direct any part of the circumference of the 

 foot by itself to the ground. 



The metacarpal and metatarsal bones form a considerable 

 angle with the surface of the sole; while the digits, when sup- 

 porting the weight of the body, are nearly horizontal. 



Muscles of the Hind Limb. 



Psoas magnus arises chiefly from the sides of the bodies of the 

 four lower dorsal vertebrae. It receives slips from the 15th, 

 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th ribs. Inserted, together with iliacus, 

 into the inner side of the femur below the neck of the bone. 

 Another slip arises from the brim of the pelvis and the capsular 

 ligament, passing to the front of the femur, 3 inches below the 

 capsular ligament. 



C. and L., 290-1, h. 



Psoas parvus arises from the sides of the bodies of the lumbar 

 vertebrae, internal to psoas magnus. It ends in a tendon about 

 4 inches long, which is inserted into the brim of the pelvis for 

 about the middle third of the lateral margin. The external iliac 

 vessels lie adjacent to the iimer side of this muscle. 



C. and L., 290-1, g. 



Iliacus arises from the whole of the iliac fossa, except a small 

 space adjacent to the brim of the pelvis, over which ^soas magnus 

 passes. It is inserted together with that muscle. The anterior 

 crural nerve emerges between psoas and iliacus in the usual 

 position. 



C. and L.— 290-1, ^; 292-3, i; 294, fig. 1, 1 In 290-1 the 

 muscle is shown as a rounded tapering mass, lying upon the 

 inferior surface of the ilium, and projecting considerably from it. 

 The full width of the muscle (which occupies the whole of the 

 Hium) and its conformity to the curves of the iliac fossa do not 

 appear in the drawing. 



Tensor fasciae femoris, a thick strong muscle, arises from the 

 outer surface of the anterior spine of the ilium, and from the 



