1900 



Osbor?i, OxycBua and Fatriofelis Restudied. 



271 



imal and distal facets make with tlie long axes of the shafts ; 

 considering the shafts as perpendicular^ facets in horizontal planes 

 indicate straight limbs ; facets in oblique planes indicate angulate 

 limbs. Exactly similar principles apply to the hand and foot 

 of Unguiculates, as shown in Fig. 3. In the passage from Otaria 



Fig. 3. Angulation of facets in feet of (I) Ursus, (II) Procyon, (III) Patrio/eUs, (IV) 

 Felis, showing increased obliquity in relation to increased angulation. 

 A, distal facets of metacarpals ; B, distal facets of ist phalanx ; C, distal facets of 2d phalanx. 



(secondarily plantigrade), Ursus (primarily plantigrade), Procyon 

 (subdigitigrade), and Felis (digitigrade), we see that the planes 

 of the distal facets give certain indication of the modes of 

 progression. 



I. As regards angulation, Fatriofelis is shown to occupy a posi- 

 tion intermediate between Frocyon and Felis, with a decidedly 

 angulate foot, the angles between phalanges i and 2 being espe- 

 cially acute. This proves that the metapodials, as well as phalan- 

 ges I and 2, were raised off the ground by palmar and plantar 

 pads as in Felis. Taking a conservative view, the feet of Fa- 

 triofelis may be described as subdigitigrade in position. The 

 straight terminal claws indicate that they entirely lacked the 

 grasping and tearing power developed in Felis. 



