PLATANISTA. 543 



carpus broadens, and sends on three divergent flat tendons to the second, third, and 

 fourth digits, as far as their distal phalanges. Threads of tendon running to the poUex 

 and little finger can be distinguished, though their precise continuity with the 

 above could not be satisfactorily made out. Indeed, in the case of the fifth digit it 

 rather seemed to have a short flexor tendon of its own. 



But that the Gangetic dolphin has considerable mobility of its manus and one 

 of the digits is best shown by the presence of two very conspicuous fleshy elongate 

 masses applied against the entire ulnar border, and indeed thereby widening the 

 palm. That on the palmar aspect is attached to the shaft of the humerus and 

 corresponding margin of the ulna, to the border of the fifth metacarpal, and the 

 succeeding phalanges of the same digit. At its upper end it obliquely crosses to a 

 slight extent the commencement of the flexor longus digitorum. Almost opposite 

 the same spot, it is separated from that next to be described by the bunch of nerves 

 and vessels passing to the palm. 



The second muscle, more dorsally placed, has attachments precisely like the 

 preceding, and, if anything, is the more bulky of the two. Both in their whole 

 course are fleshy, the terminal tendons to the distal phalanges being scarcely 

 appreciable. 



Though spoken of as distinct, these muscles are in reality in close conjunction, 

 overlapping the ulnar border of the fiJth digit, and lying approximated together, 

 Hke the leaves of a book. The brachial nerves and arterial rete mirabile, however, 

 distinctly divide them above. 



The attachment and position of these two muscles being somewhat anomalous, 

 it is difB-Cult to name them with certainty. That on the dorsal edge may either be 

 an extensor carpi-ulnaris, an extension of the triceps, or even in part a continuation 

 of that irregular brachial muscle, the so-called dorsi-epitrocJilear. Possibly, it is an 

 amalgamation of the two former. That on the palmar aspect may either be regarded 

 as a single long flexor carpi-ulnaris, embracing and supplanting short digital flexors, 

 or, united with it, may be a representative of the palmaris longus. A band of fibres 

 towards the palmar side and which join the others at an oblique angle, besides cer- 

 tain connections with what may be considered a sparse palmar fascia, lead me to 

 attribute the presence of the last-named muscle, here however fused with long 

 ulnar flexors. 



I think one may infer from the condition of the muscular structures of the 

 manus of Platanista that this Cetacean possesses very considerable power over the 

 annular or fifth digit. The amount of flexion and extension of the remaining digits 

 must, however, be trivial as compared with other aquatic Mammals, the pollex at 

 least being tolerably rigid. 



Ossiflcation of the vertebrce, and their processes. — In a foetus, the vertebral 

 column of which measures 11'50 inches, the neural arch of the atlas is ossified from 

 above the upper aspect of the articiilar surfaces, and on the inner angle of the 

 anterior surface of the anterior pair of facets, the ossification is seen to extend into 

 them ; but aU the remainder of this vertebra is cartilaginous, as well as a consider- 



