479 



The distal tibial epiphysis in the older auimal is indicated only 

 by a very faint line on the mesial side of the bone. Although firmly 

 united to the shaft, the distal epiphysis is very distinctly demarcated 

 in lion No. 2 (Fig. 13). The line showing its limits is clear round 

 the greater part of the bone, but it is a little less so in the region 

 of the grooves for the tendons of the tibialis posticus, flexor longus 

 digitoruui, and flexor longus hallucis muscles; this evidently being the 

 district in which complete fusion first occurs. 



In both lions, the epiphyses at both ends of the fibula are free. 



As in the corresponding regions of the thoracic limb, the bones 

 of the tarsus, metatarsus, and digits are completely developed. 



It would have been interesting, had it been possible, to institute 

 a comparison between the development of the lion's skeleton, so far 

 as it is illustrated by the above described material, with that of the 

 bony framework of some other member of the Felid^e or of an allied 

 family. The only available information with which I am acquainted 

 is that contained in Professor Jayne's noteworthy volume on the 

 skeleton of the cat ^) ; and, in this, the development of the various 

 bones has not been followed sufficiently far to afford data for com- 

 parison in the present instance. It is not possible, therefore, to 

 compare the bones of the lion with those of any mammal but man 

 himself. 



A comparison of the axial skeleton of the lion with that of man 

 is so beset with difficulty, on account of the numerous difierences 

 which exists between them, as to be well-nigh impossible. It is ne- 

 cessary, then to confine such comparison as will be made to the ske- 

 leton of the limbs; though here, also, difficulty exists because of the 

 paucity of lion material. 



It is clear, from the foregoing description, that there is a close 

 similarity, so far as the broad general features go, between the de- 

 velopment of the bones of the limbs of the lion and of man. Whether 

 all the human ossific centres are represented or not cannot be affirmed. 

 It is possible, however, that some of them are absent: support being 

 aiforded to this supposition by our knowledge of the centres in the 

 bones of the cat and some other mammals. For example, the lion 

 and the domestic cat have evidently only one centre of ossification in 

 association with the acromion, in place of the two centres which are 

 found in man. And in the symphysis between the two innominate 

 bones no separate nodules of bone have been found. 



1) Op. cit. 



