File:On the anatomy of vertebrates (electronic resource) (1866) (14753017124).jpg

Identifier: b20416039_002 (find matches)
Title: On the anatomy of vertebrates (electronic resource)
Year: 1866 (1860s)
Authors: Owen, Richard, 1804-1892
Subjects: Anatomy, Comparative Vertebrates Fishes Reptiles Mammals Birds
Publisher: London : Longmans, Green
Contributing Library: Wellcome Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellcome Library

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spine of the axis is bifidposteriorly. The convergence of the dorso-lumbar spines towardsthat of the thirteenth dorsal is feeble compared with other Car-nivora. Anapophyses begin to be developed on the thirteenthdorsal and subside on the penultimate lumbar vertebrae. The Lion (Felis leo, fig. 337) has 13 dorsal, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, SKELETON OF CAENIVORA. 493 and 23-25 caudal vertebras. The spine of the axis has greatheight, length, and posterior breadth, arching forward and back-ward, overlapping the third, of which the spine is obsolete; thatof the fourth is short and vertical, indicating a centre of the motionsof the neck. The anterior dorsal spines are lofty and strong, forthe origin of muscles implanted in the ridged and pitted backpart of the skull, whereby the head can be raised together withthe prey which the jaws have seized: a Lion thus draws alongthe carcase of a Buffalo, and can with ease raise and bear off thebody of a man. The eleventh dorsal is that toward which the 337
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Lion (Felis Leo), lxxiii*. spines of the other trunk-vertebras converge: the anapophysesbegin to project backward from this vertebra, and are continuedto the penultimate lumbar. Eight pairs of ribs directly join thesternum, which consists of eight bones. The lumbar diapophysesare long and antroverted. The tail is the chief seat of varietyin the vertebral column of the feline group. The Lynx (F.Lynx) e.g. has the number of caudal vertebras reduced to 15.In a tailless variety of domestic cat a stunted mass of 4 or 5coalesced caudals has become hereditary. The carnivorous unguiculate do not, like the herbivorous ungu-late Gyrencephala, show two series by numerical characters oftrunk-vertebras ; the constancy of twenty dorso-lumbars is re-markable and significant: the exceptions are not only rare, but 494 ANATOMY OF VEETEBEATES. abnormal. Where the trunk is lithe and subject to varied andagile turns and bends, the number of pairs of free elongate pleur-apophyses is small, and that of the

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