Vertebroid Homologies of the Cranium in Vertebralia. 57 



Cuvier, who, in the subject of homology, was perhaps the 

 worst guide who could be taken, as by his eloquence and in- 

 fluence in the Institute having defeated the brilliant Geoffrey 

 St. Hilaire on his fanciful homology of the opercular appa- 

 ratus, he was inclined to repudiate homology altogether. 



Cuvier, misled by the idea that the pectoral fin was the 

 homologue of the anterior extremity, fancied that the coxal 

 zone 58 was the supra-scapula, and the femur 59 was the 

 scapula, thus including two distinct and separate portions 

 of the skelon in the construction of one bone, while in one 

 of the bones of the leg the tibia 61, lias to represent two 

 bones. 



The most objectionable part of the homologies of Owen, 

 Cuvier, Huxley, &c. &c., is the confusion caused by including 

 in fishes the scapuloclavicular or humeral zone with the 

 arm as bones of the cranium, merely from their being in 

 close connection with it, instead of being placed lower down 

 the trunk, as in mammals. 



I. The Pro-thoracic or Temporal Zone 40, 47, 48, is mis- 

 named as in connection with the tympanum as well as 49, 

 which will be found to be the condyloid part of the maxilla, 

 which is completed by 50, 51, and 52. 



II. The Mesothoracic or Humeral Zone 53. The sca- 

 pula is also included in the tympanic series, and supports 

 54, 55, 56, 57 the opercular bones of Owen, and the bones 

 of the internal ear, according to Geoffrey St Hilaire, but 

 which will be found anatomically to be homologues of the 

 scapulo-clavicular zone, and anterior or respiratory limb of 

 mammals — the skelon of the Lophius piscatorius shows this 

 by having the fin rays developed, though not protruding 

 through the skin. 



III. The 3Ietathoracic or Coxal Zone. Cuvier and the 

 continental comparative anatomists have here entirely mis- 

 led Huxley, Owen and his followers, by describing the pec- 

 toral fin of the ichthyologists as the supra-scapula, the 

 scapula, arm, and hand, whereas 58 is the coxal or pelvic 

 zone, and from 59 to 67 — the thigh, leg, tarsus, and toes. 

 This must be cleared up before any system of homology can 



VOL. III. H 



