250 ME. BUSK ON THE EEMAINS OF 



that the inner condyloid ridge, which is a continuation of the angle in question, is more 

 acute in that species. The posterior and external angle in the Indian Elephant runs 

 in a nearly straight direction from the trochanter major to the outer condyle, and rises 

 a little below the middle of the shaft into a considerable prominence or rudimentary 

 third trochanter, below which it is continued into an acute external condyloid ridge. 

 In the African, on the other hand, this angle forms a considerable curve inwards in the 

 upper part of the bone, and presents scarcely any projection in the site of the third tro- 

 chanter, presenting instead a rather broad rough surface, which is moreover placed 

 lower down on the shaft ; and below this the bone is rounded and with scarcely any 

 distinct condyloid ridge. 



It may also be remarked that in the Indian femur the surface is hoUowed behind 

 the third trochanteric tuberosity, whilst in the African it is not at aU so. 



6. With i-espect to the condyles, as has already been said, they are more unequal 

 in length in the African than in the Indian species, as will be seen from the 

 measurements given in the Table. 



7. Another distinction which will probably be found constant, arises from the 

 situation of the nutrient foramen, which in the Indian Elephant is placed on the inner 

 surface, sometimes near the anterior, and sometimes near- the posterior angle, but always 

 high up on the shaft or in the upper third ; whilst in the African it would seem to be 

 situated below the middle, though on the same aspect. 



8. The patellar sulcus is wider in the African. 



With these obsei-vations we may proceed to consider the distinctive characteristics 

 of the femur of E. melitensis. 



1. It differs from the African, and agrees with the Indian, in the convexity in the 

 vertical direction of the posterior surface, which is greater than it is even in the latter 

 species. 



2. It resembles the Indian, and differs from the African, in the slight degree of 

 hoUowniess behind the rudimentary third trochanter. 



3. It agrees with the Indian, and differs from the African, in the prominence of the 

 rudimentary third trochanter, and the development of the external condyloid ridge. 

 But it differs from the Indian, and agrees with the African, in the curvature of the upper 

 part of the posterior and external angle. 



4. It resembles the African in the depth of the vascular groove on the anterior and 

 internal angle, and in the rotundity of the anterior surface of the shaft at the lower part. 



5. It resembles the Indian in the high position of the nutrient foramen. 



0. It differs very considerably from both, but more especially from the African, in the 

 want of parallelism between the anterior and posterior surfaces in the upper or com- 

 pressed part of the shaft, and the consequent great disparity in width of the internal 

 and external surfaces. Other minute differences are perceptible when the different 

 bones are placed side by side ; but the above will suffice, perhaps, to show that the 



