GLOSSOLOGY OF THE MAMMALIA, 
BEING AN EXPLANxVTION OF THE PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL WORDS USED IN 
MASTOZOOLOGY. 
ABBREVIATIONS. LAT. LATIN — GB. GREEK — ER. FRENCH — GERM. GERMAN. 
(I.) Glossology, from y^uanct (jglossa), tongue or language, and Aoyoj 
(logos), a discourse, — supplies the explanation of the technical terms be- 
longing to any Art or Science. It corresponds with the French “ Tcr- 
minologie," and with the German “ Kunslzvorier." 
(2.) M.istozoology, from fixaro; (mastos), the breast, ^aoii (zoon), an 
animal, and ’hoyo ;, — is the science which treats of the Mammalia or mam- 
raiferous animals. The corresponding French word “ Mammalogie," 
being derived partly from the Greek and partly from the Latin, is inad- 
missible. M. Desmarest has suggested the term “ Mastologie," which, 
however, is more limited in its signification than our term, originally [iro- 
posed by M. de Blainville. 
(3.) The Mammalia, Lot. Mammalia, Fr. Mammiferes, Germ. 
Siiugthiere, corresponds to the English terms “ Man and Beasts" taken 
together. These are the Mastozoa of M. de Blainville, the Mammalia 
of Linnmus, Erxleben, and others. To distinguish them from the four- 
footed Reptiles which are oviparous, they have been styled “ Viviparous 
Quadrupeds,” with much impropriety, as the Cetacea want the hinder 
limbs (see page 38). Some recent writers have attempted to introduce 
the barbarous term Mam-mals. 
I the SKELETON IN GENERAL. 
(4.) The Skeleton, Lat. Sceleton, Fr. Le Squelette, Germ. Geripp, 
Knochengeriist, is the bony frame- work of the body, destined to protect 
the nervous system and other vital parts, and serving as a point of sup- 
port to the organs of active motion. It is divided into the head, trunk, 
and extremities. 
(5.) The Head. Lat.' Caput, seu Cranium, Fr. La tete, Germ. Kopf, 
Schadel, forms the anterior portion of the skeleton [the superior in Man], 
containing the brain and the principal organs of sense. 
(6.) The Skull, Lat. Calvaria, seu Cranium, Fr. Le crane, Gmmi. 
Hirnschiidel, is the upper and hinder part of the Head, especially in- 
tended to contain the Brain. Its volume varies relatively to that of the 
head, and is by some thought to be proportioned to the degree of intel- 
ligence. The e.xceptions are, however, very nimierons. 
(7.) The Face, Lat. Facies (maxillee), Fr. La face. Germ. Gesicht, — 
forms the anterior part of the Head in Man. It contains the oigans of 
siglit, smell, and taste. ^L Desmarest is wrong in considering the ear as 
a part of the face. The length and size of the face are chiefly deter- 
mined by the dimensions of the organs of the senses, and the degree of 
intelli"ence is very often in the inverse ratio of this development. The 
face is said to be flat and perpendicular in Man, the Orang-Outang (Pi- 
ihecus satprus), and the Sloths ; sometimes it is’ prolonged into a sort of 
tube, as in the Echidna, or into a muzzle, as we find in the Dog and most 
other Mammalia. 
(8.) The Jaws, Lai. Maxill®, Mandibulse, Fr. Les machoires. Germ. 
Kiefer, Kinnladen, — composing the upper and under parts of the face, are 
united together by an articulation, and form the mouth. 
(9.) The Upper Jaw, Lat. Maxilla, seu Mandibula superior, Fr. La 
machoire superieure. Germ. Oberkiefer, — is composed of two maxillary 
bones, and generally of an incisive bone. 
(10.) The Intermaxillary, or Incisive Bone, Lat. Os intermaxil- 
lare seu incisivum, Fr. Les intermaxillaires, prtemaxillaires ou incisifs. 
Germ. Zwischenkieferbein,— is a simple or compound bone belongingto the 
upper jaw, and supporting the incisive or front teeth. It varies in size, 
beinc wantin"’ in the adult Man, although found in the human fmtus. 
(U ) The Palate, Lat. Palatum, Fr. Les palatins. Germ. Gauinen, 
—is the lower surface of the upper jaw, and forms the roof of the mouth. 
(12 ) The Lower Jaw, Lat. Mandibula, seu Maxilla inferior, Fr. La 
machoire inferieure. Germ. Unterkiefer.-which chiefly determines the 
form of the face, is sometimes arched in front, as in Man ; or its two 
branches meet in front at a more or less acute angle, as in most other 
Mammalia. Sometimes its branches do not form a single bone, but are 
separated at their point of contact, as in the Rodentia ; at other times it 
presents an inferioi point. The sides of the lower jaw terminate behind in 
twoelevated p ii'tions called the ascending rami or branches (Fr. les branches 
montantes], on which are placed the condyles, or articulations with the 
cranium, \n the glenoid cavity. The condyles are sometimes transverse, 
as in the Camassiers, or longilitdinal, as in the Rodentia, and remarkably 
so in the Ruminantia. The form of the glenoid cavity coriesponds to 
that of the condyles, though in certain genera, as in the Ant-eaters, they 
disappear altogether- 
(13.) The Chin, Lat. Mentum, Fr. Le Menton, Germ. Kiiin, — forms 
the anterior and lower margin of the under jaw. It may be more or less 
prominent or concealed. 
(14.) The Teeth, Lat. Dentes, Fr. Les Dents, Germ. Zahne, — are 
small and very hard bones of the mouth, inserted either in the jaws or the 
palate, and having a free or projecting extremity. Animals me said to 
be edentulous, Fr. Edentes, Germ. Zahnlose, when the teeth are wanting. 
(15.) The Trunk, Lat. Truncus, Fr. Le Tronc, Germ. Leib, — is 
composed of the spinal column, the ribs, and the sternum. 
(16.) The Spinal Column, Lat. Spina dorsi, Gr. Vsixi: (Rhachis), 
Fr. La Colonne vertebrale. Germ. Riikkgrat, Wirbelsiiiile, — is formed 
by the union of the small bones of the back, composing a continuous 
tube of a triangular or circular form for the protection of the spinal mar- 
row. It is divided into several regions, 
(17.) The small bones composing the spinal column are called Ver- 
tebrae, Lat. VertebrsB, Gr. SwJvSuAqi (Spoiidyli), Fr. Les Vertebres, 
Germ. Wirbelbeine, Riikkenwirbel. 
(18.) The Ribs, Lat. Costae, Fr. Los Cotes, Germ. Rippen, — are 
elongated bones inserted on the sides of the vertebraj, and converpng at 
their other extremities. They are said to be sternal or true ribs when 
they pxteiid as far as the sternum, and are articulated to it by means of a 
cartilage. The asternal or false ribs are much shorter than the former, 
and placed further behind [below in Man]. 
(19.) The Sternum or Breastbone, Lai. Sternum, Fr. Le Sternum, 
Genu. Brustbein, — which may be eithiT simple or compound, is placed 
between the inferior [anterior in Man] summits of the true ribs. It 
varies in size in different species, being very large in the Cheiroptera 
and Moles. 
(20.) The Chest or Thorax, Lai. Thorax, Fr. La Cavite thoracique, 
Germ. Brustkasten, — is the anterior cavity of the trunk containing the 
heart and lungs, and bounded above [behind in Man] by the spinal 
Eolwnn, on the sides by the ribs, and beneath [before in Man] by the 
sternum. Man, the Quadrumana, many Cheiroptera, and the Mauatus, 
liave their mamm® placed on tliis region. 
(21.) The Sacrum, Lat. Os Sacrum, Fr. L'Os Sacre, Germ. Kreuzbein, 
consists of those vertebr® adjacent to the mil and connected with other 
bones. The spinal marrow most commonly terminates here, and the 
sacrum may either be simple or composed of several bones. 
(22.) The Haunch or Pelvis, Lot. Pelvis, F'r. Le Bassin, Gernt. 
Bckken, serves to protect the hinder part [the lower in Man] of 
the abdominal cavity. It consists of the sacrum and two ossa inno- 
miuata, in which are articulations for inserting tlie bones of the hinder 
limbs. 
(23.) The Os Coccygis or Caudal Vektebr.e, Lat. Os Coccygi® 
seu Vertebra caudales, Fr. L’Os Coccygien ou caudal. Germ. Scbwuo*' 
bein, Steissbein, Schwanzwirbel, — formed of one or more bones anne.xo 
to the extremity of the sacrum, serve to support the tail when it haP' 
pens to be present. 
(24.) The Cervical Vertebrae, Lat. Vertebra; collares, Fr. Le® 
Vertebres cervicales. Germ. Halswirbel, — are the vertebra placed between 
the head and the chest, 
(25.) The Dorsal Vertebrae, Lat. Vertebrae Pectorales seu dof' 
sales, Fr. Les Vertebres dorsales. Germ. Brustwirbel oder Riikkenwirbe > 
— are the vertebra of the chest supporting the ribs. 
(26.) The Lumbar Vertebr-e, Lat. Vertebrae lumbales, Fr. Les 
Vertebres loinbaires. Germ. Lendenwirbel,— are the vertebriE between 
the chest and the sacrum. 
(27.) The Limbs or Extremities, Lat. Artus seu Extremitates, s ^ 
Les Membres ou les Extremites, Germ. Gicldmassen, — aie articulat'- 
