268 



The Kev. Samuel Haughton, M. D., Pellow of Trinity College, Dub- 

 lin, read the following paper : — 



Notes on Animal Mechanics. 



j^o. VI. — On the Muscular Anatomy oe the Ceocodile. 



During the Easter Becess of 1864, I had an opportunity of explain- 

 ing to Professor Gratiolet,* of Paris, the investigations I had made 

 with respect to the mechanism of the leg of the Ostrich and the 

 theory I had formed to explain it. This distinguished anatomist did 

 me the honour of approving of my explanation, and urged me to pro- 

 cure a Crocodile, in the posterior limb of which he assured me I should 

 find a mechanical problem exceeding in complexity that presented by 

 the leg of the Ostrich, and as yet unsolved by anatomists. 



During the month of March last I was furnished with a young Cro- 

 codile from Egypt, by Mr. Thomas Moore, Curator of the Derby Mu- 

 seum, Liverpool, to whom I had communicated my earnest desire to 

 have an opportunity of dissecting such an animal ; and the results of my 

 examination fully bear out the anticipation of Professor Gratiolet, and 

 also furnish a complete confirmation of the principles I made use of in 

 my theory of the leg of the Ostrich. 



The interlacing of tendons in the hind leg of the Crocodile is very 

 remarkable, and more complex than in the Ostrich, although in one 

 respect it somewhat resembles it. 



* The incalculable loss that science has sustained in the early part of the present year 

 by the premature death of this gifted anatomist, is exceeded by the loss experienced by 

 his friends, to whom his genial social qualities endeared him even more than his brilliant 

 scientific attainments. I extract from the " Journal des Debats" of the 19th February, 

 1865, the following just tribute to his memory : — 



" Les sciences viennent de faire une perte aussi cruelle qu'imprevue ; M. Gratiolet, 

 professeur de zoologie a la Faculte des Sciences de Paris, a succombe hier matin a une 

 attaque d'apoplexie. 



" M. Gratiolet n'avait pas cinquante ans ; avant-hier, encore plein de vie et de sante, 

 il travaillait a son laboratoire du Museum d'histoire naturelle lorsque, a deux heures, 

 frappe d'une congestion subite, il dut etre ramene a son domicile ; quelques heures plus 

 tard, il avait perdu connaissance; hier matin a quatre heures, il rendaitle dernier soupir. 



"Nous ne saurions peindre l'emotion profonde qu'a causee dansle monde scientifique 

 I'annonce de cette mort prematuree. M. Gratiolet etait aime de tous ; son affabilite, la 

 droiture de son caractere lui avaient concilie toutes les sympathies. 



" Ses travaux d'anatomie comparee, ses recherches sur le systeme nerveux et sur le 

 cerveau, etc., l'avaient mis au nombre des naturalistes les plus distingues de notre pays ; 

 son merveilleux talent d'elocution l'avait place au premier rang parmi nos professeurs 

 les plus renommds, et l'aptitude de son esprit pour les etudes metaphysiques avait im- 

 prime a ses ceuvres un caractere d'originalite qu'appreciaient les philosophes aussi bien 

 que les savans. 



" La mort est venue le frapper au moment ou, apres de longues annees de lutte,' il 

 semblait sur le point de recueillir le fruit de ses laborieux efforts. 



(( AlMK GlRARD." 



