THREE EXTINCT SPECIES OF ELEPHANT. 267 
foramen in an unusual situation for an Elephant—that is to say, in the middle of the an- 
terior surface, about 3-5 below the summit of the shaft. Since in the former instance 
there is no trace of this foramen in the more usual situation, which is on the inner 
aspect and (as in the case of the Indian Elephant) at, or but little below, the upper third 
of the entire length of the bone, it is interesting to find its situation indicated in the 
present specimen ; and this situation, if it be not a mere individual variation, will further 
indicate an important distinctive character in the femur of Z. falconeri*. At the lower 
end the form of the anterior surface is subtriangular, and in that respect more like the 
corresponding surface in the young Indian than in the African femur, in which, as 
before remarked, the anterior aspect of the bone is more rounded. On the posterior 
aspect the chief peculiarity consists in the great projection backwards of the postero- 
external angle above, by which the surface is rendered concave. At the lower end 
may be noticed a rather deep groove on the internal condyloid ridge. 
In order to give as complete an idea as I can of the distinctive peculiarities of the 
femur of #. falconeri, and of the manifest relation the present specimen bears to that 
last described, I have added the subjoined outlines of the transverse section in a line 
immediately below the base of the trochanter major, and as nearly as possible at the 
corresponding level in all three instances. From the more imperfect condition, however, 
27 as 
ts 
1. Transverse section of femur of E. melitensis 
(Pl. XLY. fig. 6). 
2. Transyerse section of femur of EZ, falconeri 
(Pl. L. fig. 29). 
3. Transverse section of femur of &. falconeri 
(Pl. L. fig. 30). 
as. Anterior surface. 
ps. Posterior surface. 
is. Internal surface. 
es. External surface. 
ea. External angle. 
Bp at f. Pretrochanteric fossa. 
es 
ea 
* It may be remarked that, in this instance, the nutrient foramen occupies the same situation that it does in 
the greater number of Ruminants. 
VOL. VI.—PART V. 2P 
