from the Pleistocene of Menorca. 105 



Mr. Tagliaferro's collection has a greatest length of 16-8 cm. and 

 an antero-posterior width of the proximal extremity of 7'3 cm. 



Ulna. — This limb-bone is represented in the Menorcan collection 

 by one specimen only. The olecranon is missing, otherwise it is almost 

 entirely preserved, but its outline is somewhat obscured owing to its 

 being still attached on its post-axial aspect to the hard red matrix. 



It is of the right side, and is 85 mm. in length from the highest 

 point of the humeral articulation. The pre-axial surface of the bone 

 is sliglitly damaged, but it is evident that there can have been only 

 the slightest, if any, roughening for the distal articulation with the 

 radius. This roughened surface is very distinct in the cast of a large 

 specimen (11 3969) from Malta. The proximal radial articulating sur- 

 face is about 21 mm. wide and that of the humeral articulation 23mm.; 

 there is a pit, probably for the attachment of a ligament, at the middle 

 of the shaft on its pre-axial edge. The hone is considerably twisted 

 and the pre-axial border much curved. Though smaller the Menorcan 

 ulna resembles that of T. grandidieri in general conformation, except 

 that its distal extremity is squarer in outline and the lower half 

 of the post-axial ])order more prominent. 



Pelvic Arch. — This is represented by an imperfect right innominate 

 bone and two ilia, all of considerable size, though far from equalling 

 the proportions of some of the other bones from Menorca. The Spratt 

 collection from Malta only includes three fragments of this bone 

 referred to T. rohusta, none of which are sufficiently preserved to be 

 of assistance for comparison. Besides this there is in the national 

 collection a cast (R .'^972) of the acetabular region of a very large 

 individual also from Malta. The greatest diameter of the acetabulum 

 is 9'3 cm. 



Neither of the Menorcan ilia is in a good state of preservation : 

 that of the right side is 11-9 cm. in extreme length and has a greatest 

 thickness of 2*6 cm., though both these measurements must have 

 originally been slightly more. In that of the left side the acetabular 

 ai'ticulating surface is present and has a width of 3 4 cm. This 

 example is still adhering to the matrix on its ischial border. 



The right innominate bone is still partially embedded in the 

 matrix and is considerably damaged, the upper half of the ilium 

 being wanting and the pubis and ischium in a fragmentary condition. 

 The obturator foramen is ovoid in shape and has a gi'eatest diameter 

 of about 3 9 cm. The pelvis differs considerably among the gigantic 

 tortoises ; in T. ponderosa ^ the lower portions of the pubic bones are 

 much extended, together forming a beak-like process. This character 

 does not obtain in that of T. elephantoptis,' which the Menorcan 

 example seems to closely resemble. 



Femur. — The collection includes an imperfect specimen of small 

 size and the proximal ends of three other's, none of which approach 

 in size the humeri described above. The small femur is of 

 the right side and has a total length of 11cm., and the smallest 

 circumference of the shaft is 5-5 cm. Part of the distal extremity is 

 missing and the proximal end is much damaged, but it can be seen 

 that there is no intertrochanteric notch and probably none between 

 ^ Giinther, op. cit., pi. xviii. " Ibid., pi. lii. 



