3 8 + Mr . Hunter’s Observations on the 
bones, and is of fome length. In the Piked Whale the firfl 
rib, and in the Porpoife the three firil, are articulated with the 
.{fernum. 
As a contraction, correfponding to the neck in quadrupeds, 
would have been improper in this order of animals, the verte- 
brae of the neck are thin, to make the diltance between the 
head and (boulders as fhort as pofiible, and in the lmall Idottle- 
nofe Whale are only fix in number. 
The druCture of the bones is fimilar to that of the bones of 
quadrupeds ; they are compofed of an animal fubdance, and 
an earth that is not animal : tliefe feem only to be mechani- 
cally mixed, or rather the earth thrown into the interdices of 
the animal part. In the bones of fifhes this does not feem to be 
the cafe, the earth in many fifh being fo united with the ani- 
mal part, as to render the whole tranfparent, which is not the. 
cafe when the animal part is removed by deeping the bone in 
caudic alkali : nor is the animal part lo tranfparent when 
deprived of the earth. The bones are lefs compact than 
thofe of quadrupeds that are fimilar to them. 
Their form fomewhat refembles what takes place in the 
quadruped, at lead: in thofe whofe ufes are fimilar, as the 
vertebras, ribs, and bones of the anterior extremities have 
their articulations in part alike, although not in all of them. 
The articulation of the lower jaw, of the carpus, metacarpus, 
and fingers, are exceptions. The articulation of the lower 
jaw is not by fimple contact either fingle or double, joined by 
a capfular ligament, as in the quadruped ; but by a very thick 
intermediate fubdance of the ligamentous kind, fo interwoven 
that its parts move on each other, in the interflices of which is 
an oil. This thick matted fubflance may anfwer the lame 
purpofe as the double joint in the quadruped. 
The 
