158 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL.83 



considerably less of a circle, than in recent ossa innominata ; and the 

 shape of the fossa acetabuli is different. The postero-superior border 

 of the obturator foramen differs also rather materially from that in 

 recent bones ; it presents a marked triangular point above the cotyloid 

 notch, and is markedly obtuse in its lov^er half. Other minor peculi- 

 arities of the bone appear to fall within the range of its present 

 variation. 



The femur. — The Neanderthal femora differ markedly from those 

 of the average present man. Their distinctive features could not 

 collectively be duplicated today, in some instances not even indi- 

 vidually. 



The head is large and more globular than in modern man. The 

 neck is stout and rather short, and the angle it forms with the shaft 

 is less oblique than in most recent femora. The connecting bridge of 

 bone between the great trochanter and the neck is stouter than in 

 most recent bones ; the trochanteric fossa is larger than in modern 

 man. The trochanter minor is prominent and located more mesially 

 than in most modern femora ; this is especially the case on the right. 

 The sub-trochanteric flattening and bellying is but moderate, espe- 

 cially on the right. The upper third of the shaft shows a distinct bend 

 outward (medial convexity inward) ; this is either absent or but 

 slightly represented in normal recent femora. The whole shaft shows 

 a marked uniform arching forward, reaching from the level of the 

 trochanter minor to the condyles ; such curve, to such a degree, is 

 but rarely found in normal modern bones. The gluteal insertion is 

 marked by a somewhat irregular oblong blunt ridge, pronounced in its 

 upper portion which reaches to and upon the great trochanter ; it 

 would be hard to duplicate such a condition in modern femurs. The 

 linea aspera is relatively but slightly developed ; this is rare in strong 

 male modern bones. The shape of the shaft at the middle is inter- 

 mediate beween cylindrical and oval. The popliteal space in both bones 

 is very distinctly convex except in the lowermost portion, which 

 is flat to very slightly concave; the fullness (convexity) of the upper 

 two-thirds of the space, to this degree, could hardly be duplicated in 

 modern femora ; it recalls the femur of the Pithecanthropus, though 

 the convexity of the latter is even greater. 



The lower end of the femur is very distinctive : the lateral condyles 

 rise decidedly higher above the mesial than is the case in modern 

 femora ; the anterior portion of the intercondylar notch is markedly 

 concave, especially on the right, while in modern femora its outline 

 from side to side is convex-concave-convex. 



