. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 862 PACHYDERMATA. Fig. Skeleton of Hippopotamus. breadth constitute a kind of osseous case, en- closing a considerable portion of the abdominal cavity, and calculated to give origin to muscles of power proportioned to its ponderous con- tents. In the Hyrax, dissected by Pallas, there were twenty-two ribs on the left side and only twenty-one on the right: .of these seven were true ribs, six false attached to the sternum by the intervention of costal cartilages, and the rest merely imbedded in the muscles of the flan
. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 862 PACHYDERMATA. Fig. Skeleton of Hippopotamus. breadth constitute a kind of osseous case, en- closing a considerable portion of the abdominal cavity, and calculated to give origin to muscles of power proportioned to its ponderous con- tents. In the Hyrax, dissected by Pallas, there were twenty-two ribs on the left side and only twenty-one on the right: .of these seven were true ribs, six false attached to the sternum by the intervention of costal cartilages, and the rest merely imbedded in the muscles of the flanks. The sternum consisted of six pieces, of which the last or ensiform was further pro- longed by a spathulate cartilage. In the Tapir the ribs are twenty in number on each side, whilst there are but four lumbar vertebra. The Elephant, likewise, has twenty pairs of ribs and only three lumbar vertebrae. The Rhinoceros has nineteen pairs of ribs, and the Hog only fourteen. The sternum is of considerable length and compressed laterally. In many genera, more- over, it is prolonged in front to a considerable distance, in order to allow more ample space for the attachment of muscles. Anterior extremities. — The limbs of the Pachydermata are necessarily constructed more with a view to ensure strength adequate to sus- tain their ponderous bulk than to permit of agile and active movements. The smaller genera, indeed, such as the Suidse, have their bones so arranged as to permit of considerable fleetness in running, but in the more colossal genera the condition of the extremities secures support at the expense of speed, and flexibility is sacrificed to solidity and firmness. Scapula.—The shoulder-blade of the Ele- phant, independently of its size, might be distinguished from that of any other living animal by the following circumstances. When in situ, its posterior side, which is deeply con- cave, is by far the shortest of the three, while the anterior and spinal costae are of nearl
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