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 mstance 

 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 Httle below, the upper third 

 of the entire length of the bone, it is interesting to find its sit)iation indicated in the 

 present specimen ; and this situation, if it be not a mere individual variation, will fm-ther 

 indicate an important distinctive character in the femur of E. 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 oi E. 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, 



of femur of E. falconeri 



1. Transverse section of femur of E. melitensis 



(PI. XIV. fig. 6). 



2. Transverse section of femur of E. falconeri 



(PL L. fig. 29). 



3. Transverse section 



(PI. L. fig. 30). 

 a s. Anterior surface. 

 Posterior surface. 

 Internal surface. 

 e s. External surface. 

 e a. External angle. 

 atf. Pretrochanteric fossa. 



is. 



* It may be remarked that, in this instance, the nutrient foramen occupies the same situation that it does in 

 the greater number of liuminants. 



VOL. \1. — PART V. 2 P 



