387 



The existence of three toes on the hind feet of this genus, is 

 proved by a foot, which was found nearly entire, with three metatarsal 

 bones and a supernumerary bone, and which appeared to belong to 

 P. medium. 



Although the structure of this foot does not so materially differ from 

 those of the animals of the present day as Ijiat of the Anoplotherium does, 

 it approaching somewhat to the tapir, it is still undoubtedly of a struc- 

 ture at present unknown. That the hind foot of the animal, considered 

 as P. magnum, was tridactyle, was evinced by the form of a fossil astra- 

 galus of this animal. The foot which appeared to belong to the species 

 P. minus agreed with the preceding in having three metatarsal bones, and 

 a supernumerary bone, but was not larger than that of a fox. 



Besides those bones of the hind feet which are referable to the pre- 

 ceding species, a tridactyle foot was found, rather less than that of a hog, 

 and shorter and thicker than that which is attributed to the P. medium, 

 and was therefore considered as belonging to P. crassum. 



An astragalus was found which materially differed from that of known 

 animals. It approached the nearest to that of the tapir; but it differed 

 from it obviously in several points, and from its thickness was supposed 

 to belong to the last-mentioned species. 



The quarries of Paris also supplied M. Cuvier with the tibia of P. me- 

 dium. He also obtained the tibiae of P. magnum, P. minus, and P. cras- 

 sum ; and was able to determine, that in these animals, and in those of 

 the genus Anoplotherium, the fibula was complete and distinct, as well as 

 in the other pachydermata. 



We have seen that the teeth, as well as the feet, point out an ana- 

 logy between this animal and the rhinoceros and tapir, and M. Cuvier 

 has been able to show an equal correspondence in the os femoris. Three 

 species of quadrupeds, the rhinoceros, tapir, and the solipedes, are di- 

 stinguished from the others by a third trochanter, or a strong apophysis 

 on the outer edge of the bone, below that which is known as the great 

 trochanter. In the fossil os femoris, this third trochanter is rounded and 



