192 ON THE FOSSIL BONES OF PACM'TDERMATOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



of the thumb and index are in a contrary direction ^rom those of the 

 fourth and little finger. 



The entire thumb of the posterior member is reduced to a single 

 small bone, a little pointed, which adheres to the first cuneiform bone 

 by an oval surface, which is a little concave. 



The metatarsal bone of the second toe has above a large triangular 

 surface slightly convex, for the second cuneiform ; on the internal side and 

 forwards a small triangular surface, separated from the edge, descending 

 obliquely and projecting, for a corresponding surface of the first cunei- 

 form bone ; on the inner side a long narrow facette contiguous with the 

 edge of the great one, terminating in a point at the two-thirds of 

 the length of this edge, for the metatarsal bone of the third toe. 



The latter has above a large surface in the form of a plane isosceles 

 triangle, for the third cuneiform bone. Its external lateral surface 

 is long and narrow, as that of the second metatarsal bone to which 

 it corresponds. The inner is shorter, semi-oval, occupying but half the 

 length of the edge of the upper surface. The internal and external are 

 contiguous with the great surface, and descend almost vertically .. 

 Under the external the bone has a slight tuberosity. 



The upper surface of the fourth metatarsal bone is divided into tw® 

 by a ridge, which corresponds to a fissure of the cuboid bones ; its in- 

 ternal lateral facette corresponds with that of the third in figure and 

 position. The external is not very perceptible, and is not very distinct 

 from the great upper surface. 



The metatarsal bone of the little toe is singularly shortened, and as 

 thick as it is long ; it has above an oval facette, slightly concave for the 

 external inferior surface of the cuboid bone. The internal edge i& 

 reflected back a little to touch the fourth metatarsal bone. 



The lower heads of the four great bones of the metatarsus give rise 

 to the same remarks nearly as those of the metacarpus. 



The bones of the metatarsus and metacarpus of the elephant, taken 

 generally, are easily distinguished from those of the rhinoceros,, which 

 are flattened from before backward, and not in triangular prisms ; 

 with respect to those of the hippopotamus, they have a symmetry 

 altogether different, and their surfaces are in other respects very 

 distinct. 



9. — Bones of the Phalanges. 



The first phalanges of all the feet are a little more long than broad, 

 and a little flattened fifom before backward. Their upper surface is- 

 slightly concave ; the lower, which is puUy-shaped, is but little deve- 

 loped. 



The others are much more broad than long. 



The last are small, and semi-circular or oval. 



There would be a mode of referring each of them to its own foot 

 and its own toe, by sensible marks and characters ; but we do not con- 

 ceive it necessary for our object to enter into so minute a detail. 



Let it suffice here to observe what we already declared in our pre- 

 liminary discourse; it is, that there is not in the elephant one bone,, 

 nor a head of bone, which may not be distinguished from those of all 



