1899-] Wortman and Matthew^ Ancestry of the Camdie, etc. I 23 



^regarius (No. 8774). Prof. Scott has already fully described 

 nearly all parts of this species, but we are able to fill out the 

 description in one or two points for which his material was in- 

 complete, and to give a series of measurements, which, being 

 taken all from one individual, give the relative proportions with 

 greater accuracy. Some of the individuals which Prof. Scott 

 includes under C.gregarius may be referable to C. lippincottianus. 



Hind Foot. — The tarsus has already been described in full by 

 Prof. Scott. There are five }netatarsals, the first slender, its 

 length two thirds that of mt. in, diameter of the shaft half as 

 great. Head rather small, shaft nearly straight, slender, rather 

 compressed. Second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsals sym- 

 metrical, the central pair a little longer and about one fourth 

 greater in diameter of shaft. The distal articular ends are 

 spheroidal, not at all of the square-cut style seen in all modern 

 Dogs. The upper part of the shaft is somewhat compressed, the 

 distal part not at all, and the distal ends are much more enlarged 

 than in Cants, the diameter being one third more than that of the 

 shaft, which in Canis increases in diameter at the distal end and 

 is not over one tenth of the shaft diameter. The foot was therefore 

 more spreading, as well as 15 per cent, shorter. The bones are 

 as slender, however, as in a modern Dog. The phalanges are long 

 and slender, quite as long as in modern Dogs. The second pha- 

 lanx of each toe is asymmetrical and excavated, as in Daphcenus, 

 indicating, according to Scott, some retractility of the claws. No 

 strong basal sheath appears to have been on the unguals, which 

 are much as in Canis. 



As the measurements indicate, the hind limb bones were much 

 nearer to their present proportions, while the fore limbs were still 

 quite short. The difference in the feet is yet more marked, for 

 while the fore foot was scarcely more elongated than the Creo- 

 dont ancestors, the hind foot was already long and slender, 

 though not as narrow nor quite as long as in modern species. In 

 both feet, however, the tetradactyl symmetry is already distinct, 

 and both pollex and hallux are reduced. 



The measurements of the skeleton. No. 8774, as far as at 

 present obtainable, are given in comparison with those of the 

 Fennec, the nearest living Canid in point of size. 



