CREODONTA 369 



M. 



Length of a metacarpal 069 



Width of a metacarpal distally 019 



Width of condyles 015 



Diameters of a head of a metacantal J ® ^" "■ 



< transverse 01 J 



Length of a. phalange 024 



„. ^ /. V 1 It < vertical at middle 012 



Diameters of a phalange proximally < 



( transverse. 017 



The posterior limb is quite elongate. The tibia has the length of that of 

 the Ursus americanus, while the femur is a little shorter than the femur of 

 the same species. In Mesonyx ossifragus it is a little longer than the tibia ; 

 in Ursus americanm the difference in the proportions of the two bones is 

 greater. The femur has more prominent greater and lesser trochanters than 

 either Ursus americanus, Canis lupus, or Uncia concolor. The great tro- 

 chanter projects beyond the line of the head, and its extremity is compressed 

 anteroposteriorly. The trochanteric fossa is large, and is more open than 

 in either of the three Carnivora above mentioned. The lesser trochanter is 

 compressed and large. The third trochanter commences a little below the 

 line of the inferior edge of the little trochanter. It has a long base, but is 

 obtuse and little prominent. The fossa ligamenti teris is much larger than 

 in either of the species above mentioned, and extends to the neck of the 

 femur. The shaft of the femur is rather stout, and has a large medullary 

 cavity, which in the specimen is filled with calcareous spar The walls are 

 not thicker than in some Dinosauria. The linea asper is impressed, and 

 vanishes inferiorly. The rotular groove is wide, and its bounding crests 

 are rather high, and are subequal. The proportions are about as in Uncia 

 concolor, being less elevated than in Canis lupus, and more so than in Ursus 

 americanus. The edges are reflected above the rotular curface, a peculiarity 

 not seen in either of the species named. The fossa at the external base of 

 the rotular face is present as in Ursus and Canis. The condyles are sub- 

 equal, are regularly convex, and are not much produced backwards. 



Measurements of femur. 



M. 



Length from summit of great trochanter 315- 



Width of head 077 



Anteroposterior diameter of head .... O'iZ 



Width at third trochanter.. 048 



24 C 



