THE SKELETON. 
71 
The scapula or shoulder-blade is of great size ; it is unequally 
divided by a ridge or spine, and from about its centre is a process 
directed backwards. The cavity with which it articulates with the 
next bone is very shallow, and looks downwards. 
The humerus is also large, and affords extensive surfaces for 
the attachment of muscles. 
The fore-arm consists of two bones, the ulna and radius, which 
in the elephant are distinct and peculiar, in that they are obliquely 
and permanently crossed. " The upper end of the latter (radius) 
is small ; while the ulna not only contributes the principal part of the 
articular surface for the humerus, but has its distal end actually 
larger than that of the radius — a condition unique among mam- 
mals." — [Flower.) 
The knee in the fore, and the ankle or hock joint in the hind- 
limb are situated very low down, namely just above the pad or 
hoof. 
The knee-joint or carpus is made up of a group of 8 distinct 
small but very hard irregular-shaped bones. 
^' There are 5 digits with short stout phalanges, the terminal 
ones being very small and of irregular form." — [Flower.) 
The hind-limb. — As in the case with the fore-limbs, the vertical 
disposition of the bones is observed, and to some extent bears a 
strong resemblance to the arrangement of the bones in the human 
subject. 
The femur or thigh bone is a long bone more or less cylindrical 
in form ; at its upper extremity is a rounded head which fits into 
the socket, or acetabulum, and forms the hip joint. The lower 
extremity articulates with the tibia (the stifle joint of the horse). 
The patella or knee-cap is slightly convex lengthwise and 
concave transversely at its articular surface." — [Owen.) 
The tibia and fibula comprise the second segment of the limb. 
The first-mentioned is by far the larger bone ; its upper end is 
expanded, the shaft of the bone is somewhat triangular in shape. 
The lower extremity is also expanded slightly to receive the bones 
of the hock. 
The fibula is distinct from end to end : at its upper extremity it 
is connected to the tibia just below the joint, and its lower end 
enters into the formation of the hock joint. 
As with the fore-foot, three groups of bones go to form the 
skeleton of the hind-foot, namely : — 
[a) The tarsus or hock, consisting of seven bones. 
[b) The metatarsals. 
[c) The phalanges or toes. 
The foot. — By the term foot is meant the hoof slipper" and 
