OCR Text |
Show 102 MESSRS. WATSON AND YOUNG ON THE [Jan. 14, In the absence of a caudal origin the semitendinosus in H. crocuta differs from that of Viverra. The biceps, strong and bulky, springs from the tuberosity of the ischium. The anterior two thirds of its fibres terminate on the ligamentous structure on the outer side of the knee, whilst the remaining third ends on a tendinous band which reaches down to the os calcis. In the Civet the arrangement is very similar. Tensor fasciae femoris, from the anterior half of the lower border of the ilium, is inserted into the fascia lata about the middle of the outer side of the thigh. Douglas describes this muscle in the Dog as being double-headed. The sartorius takes origin from the anterior spine of the ilium ; and whilst one set of fibres pass obliquely to the upper end of the tibia as usual, a second set run straight down superficial to the rectus femoris, and joins this latter low down, forming an additional element in the common extensor. The two parts so described are united simply by membrane, they themselves forming distinct muscular bundles. The muscle may be regarded, therefore, as a double sartorius, or the outer fibres as forming a superficial rectus or fifth extensor, such as was first described by Douglas in the D o g under the name of " extensor tibiae primus cani proprius." In many Carnivorous animals the two bundles are united and continuous, a single muscle therefore resulting, viz. the sartorius. In the Civet such is the case, though Macalister in his specimen found it double. The gracilis has a broad aponeurotic origin from the posterior part of the symphysis pubis, and also from the anterior portion of the pubic arch. It is inserted into the internal surface of the shaft of the tibia at its upper part. Exactly the same arrangement is found in the Civet and also in H. striata. The pectineus is from the ilio-pectineal line to the middle of the linea aspera of the femur. In the Civet this muscle is large' and double at its insertion, which, however, does not extend below the middle of the shaft of femur. In the Dog, whilst the pectineus is single, according to Meckel its insertion reaches clown to the internal condyle. Adductor magnus arises from the pubic arch, for two inches in front of the ischial tuberosity. The fibres form a comparatively long and narrow muscle, which, bifurcating low down, is inserted partly into the line leading to the internal condyle of the femur, and also by a distinct but narrow tendon into the internal tuberosity of tbe tibia. This latter probably represents the insertion of the semimembranosus, which in H. crocuta must be regarded as coalesced with the great adductor. In this respect, as stated before, H. crocuta conforms to the Carnivorous type, but differs from H. striata, Bear, Raccoon, Coati, Civet, and Tayra. Adductor brevis, of considerable magnitude, forms the remaining and greater part of the adductor mass. It takes origin from the body of the pubis and from the anterior half of the pubic arch, and |