No. 427.] ABNORMALITY IN CATS’ PAWS. 521 
artery. The metacarpals, as well as the other bones of the 
pollices, vary considerably in length and thickness, and in this 
respect will be con- 
sidered more closely 
later. 
There is no par- 
ticularly noticeable 
variation in the proxi- 
mal series of pha- 
langes (PAZx.przx.). 
These bones have the 
least distinctive char- 
acters, differing from 
one another chiefly in 
size, 
The series of mid- 
dle phalanges (phéx. 
m.) furnishes very 
interesting condi- 
tions. In both the 
normal and abnormal 
manus the three ex- 
ternal (ulnar) middle 
phalanges are carved 
away on the ulnar 
side to allow for the 
retraction of the cor- 
responding ungual 
phalanges (phlx.ung.). 
The middle phalanx 

Fic. 17- . Fic. 18. 
Fic. 17. — Dorsal aspect of skeleton of left manus of normal cat. 
of the index of the Fic. 18. — Dorsal aspect of left manus of hexadactyle cat. A, radial 
normal manus is like- digit of — ma) I, that of voies manus ; d 
wise carved away on pals; xz., uncinate; os mag., os magnum; fALr.»., middle 
ges; flr. 
the ulnar side, but in phalanges; pæ pisiform; r, radius; scph-lun., scapho-lunar ; 
thicábhnormal fanus — 7" sesamoid ; £rz., trapezium; £rzd., trapezoid ; w/m., ulna. 
the digit (C, Fig. 18) next to the three ulnar digits is carved 
away on neither side and is therefore “ indifferent." The middle 
phalanx of digit B (Fig. 18) has no counterpart in the normal 

