The principal forms of the skeleton and the teeth : as the basis for a system of natural history and comparative anatomy / by Professor Owen.

  • Owen, Richard, Sir, 1804-1892.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principal forms of the skeleton and the teeth : as the basis for a system of natural history and comparative anatomy / by Professor Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    Before entering upon the disposition of the bony matter, a few words may be pre- mised as to the composition of that matter in the different classes of Vertebrata. These classes are four:—Fishes, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals, which latter class includes the hair-clad beasts, commonly called quadrupeds, with the naked whales and human kind. Fishes have the smallest proportion, birds the largest proportion, of the earthy matter in their bones. The animal part in all is chiefly a gelatinous substance. PROPORTIONS OP EARTHY OR INORGANIC, AND OP ANIMAL OR ORGANIC, MATTER IN THE BONES OF THE VERlEBRAI-h AiNIMAlib. PISHES. oiximon* V-/tt i i^* 60-62 40-40 34-30 QQ.QQ 100-00 100-00 100-00 HEPTILES. Frog.' Qri o 1' p 35-50 31-04 46-67 oy yo OO OO 100-00 100-00 100-00 MAMMALS Porpoise. Ox. Lion. Man. 35-90 31-00 27-70 31-03 64-10 69-00 72-30 68-97 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 BIRDS. Goose. Turkey. Hawk. .32-91 30 49 26-72 ,,67 09 69-51 73-28 100-00 100-00 100-00 From the above table it will be seen that the bones of the fresh-water fishes have more animal matter, and are, consequently, lighter than those of fishes from the denser element of sea-water ; and that the marine mammal called porpoise differs little from the sea-fish in this respect. The batrachian frog has more animal matter in its bones than the ophidian or saurian reptiles, and thereby, as in other respects, more resembles the fish. Serpents almost equal birds in the great proportion of the osseous salts, and hence the density and ivory-like whiteness of their bones. The chemical nature of the inorganic or hardening particles, and of the organic basis of bone, is exemplified in the subjoined Table, including a species of each of the Four classes of Vertebrata:—