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Show 13(3 ON CARPAL VIBRISSA IK MAMMALS. [Feb. 18, It may be convenient to sum up the facts which have been detailed in this communication, and to present them in the form of a brief resume :- (1) In nearly all the Orders of Mammalia-viz., the Primates, Carnivora, Ungulata, Rodentia, Edentata, and Marsupi-alia- there is generally a tuft of strong vibrissa? upon the w^rist. (2) This tuft consists of from one to about twenty hairs usually (if not always) supplied by a strong nerve which arises from the radial nerve of the arm. (3) This structure is as a rule, when present, found in both sexes; but occasionally it is present in the male only. (4) The tuft of carpal vibrissa? is apparently absent from all the Ungulates, except Hyrax ; and from the Anthropoidea among the Primates. (5) In the groups where the carpal organ is present, it is apt to be capricious in its distribution. Thus it is present in the Lion, and absent in the Tiger. (6) With the marked exception of the. Anthropoidea, there seems to be a certain relation between the presence of the tuft of carpal vibrissa? and the nature of the fore limbs. W h e n the fore limbs are purely ambulatory limbs, the carpal vibrissa? are absent. |