42 SOLENODON PARADOXUS. 



over a deep fossa. The fibula is of about the same absohite width as in Gymnura 

 and articulates at its head with the ectal head of tlie tibia. It is therefore free 

 proximally as, apparently, in Potamogale and Myogale, but not in Gymnura and 

 Erinaceus. An oval sesamoid bone about 3.4 mm. in length occurs in Solcnodon 

 paradoxus attached by fibers to the approximated posterior edges of tibia and 

 filnila. It lies in the popliteus muscle just below its origin from the femur. 

 I have found no mention of such a bone in other Insectivora and it is not shown 

 in Peters's figure of the skeleton of S. cubanus. The greatest length of the 

 tibia is 63 mm., and of the fibula 58.5 mm., or almost identically the same as the 

 corresponding bones of tS. cubanus. 



The bones of the foot (Plate 8, fig. 16), according to Dobson, are in general 

 like those of Centetes. They also appear to be essentially similar to those of the 

 Erinaccidae. There is, however, a remarkable development of the proximal 

 portion of the entocunciforme, whose ventral border is continued posteriorly so 

 as to meet the antero-internal edge of tlie os calcis. This poi'tic >n als( i articulates 

 tlorsally with the ental surface of tlie astragalus and passes ventral to the navic- 

 ulare whicli tlius rests partly ujxm it. The last-named is small and trapezoidal 

 in shape, articulating with part of the distal face of the astragalus. The meso- 

 cunei forme is about half the size of the ectocuneiforme and tlie two articulate 

 with the second and third metatarsals respectively, as usual. The cuboid is 

 large, and its expanded proximal end articulates with the os calcis. The fourth 

 metatarsal is supported by its distal end, as likewise the ental corner of the fifth, 

 wliich rests in part on the base of tlie former. There is a well de\'elojied pre- 

 hallux of two separate bones. The more proximal is small and nearly round, 

 aliout 1.5 mm. in diameter, at the ento-posterior edge of the naviculare. The 

 more distal bone is flattened, about 5.5 mm. long, and slightly less than 2 mm. 

 distally where it reaches its greatest breadth. Peters has figured a similar 

 jirehallux for the Cuban Solenotlon. 



The metatarsal of the hallux has a ventral outer projection at the base, 

 that partiall}' overlaps the base of the second metatarsal from the plantar 

 aspect. A much less imbrication is shown by the base of the second and the 

 fifth metatarsals. No such development was noted in Gymnura and Erinaceus. 



The three middle digits, 2, 3, 4, are suliequal in length; the fifth is shorter, 

 and the first a trifle shorter still. This last has two phalanges, like the poUex. 

 As in the manus, there are two small sesamoids at the base of all the proximal 

 jihalanges, and a minute median sesamoid ventrally at the last joint of each digit. 



It remains to describe briefly the laryngeal and hyoid bones (Plate 7, fig. 3). 



