so ME. A. L. ADAMS ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF 



in the circumstances that the anterior sulcus ends short of the peroneal facet, as seen in 

 figs. 1 & 2, moreover it is not so broad in them, and ends abruptly instead of shal- 

 lowing out towards the external extremities ; so that the undulating anterior margin of 

 the tibial facet, observed in the recent species and in the next two series, is wanting in 

 A series. 



As regards dimensions, the largest of these astragals do not represent an animal quite 

 7 feet in height ; the admeasurements of fig. 1 almost equal the young Asiatic species 

 (2677 a, Royal College of Surgeons); and the fragment A belonged to an Elephant nearly 

 as large as the Sumatran in the British Museum, whilst fig. 2 was probably that of a 

 younger individual of the large species. 



B Series. — The left astragalus of my collection, PL X. fig. 10 (and figured by Mr. 

 Busk in his monograph '), differs considerably from any of the above. It was found in 

 Benghisa Gap in conjunction with other remains here described as belonging to the 

 smaller form. Although of the dimensions or thereabout of PL XVI. fig. 2, the two differ 

 as follows: — 1. The tibial surface is even in fig. 2, and concave in that under notice. 

 2. In fig. 10 the tibial surface is relatively broader in the antero-posterior, and shorter in 

 the transverse admeasurement. 3. There is a much deeper naviculare facet, which, for 

 the size of the bone, may be said to be enormous. 4. The inner and posterior tuberosity 

 is projecting far beyond the posterior margin of the tibial surface. 5. The anterior 

 sulcus is narrower than in the other Maltese forms, and runs out at the external 

 extremity, instead of terminating abruptly short of the fibular facet. 6. The inter- 

 osseous fissure almost divides the two calcaneal facets, the internal of which is not 

 raised so much above the level of the others. 7. The anterior border of the tibial facet 

 is undulating, as in the recent species and Mammoth. These features give quite a 

 different aspect to the bone than is observed in any recent or fossil astragalus which 

 has come under my notice. The greater portion of the fibular facet has been attrited ; 

 otherwise the specimen is perfect and affords the following admeasurements : — 



Length of antero-posterior diameter H-1 inches, breadth 3-3 inches, height 2-1 

 inches ; tibial facet 2-5 inches (antero-posterior) by 2-2 inches ; naviculare facet 3 inches 

 (transversely) by 2 inches, by tape (arc) 3-7 inches ; outer calcaneal facet 1-9 by 1-3 

 inch; inner calcaneal facet I'S by 1 inch^ 



C Series. — The question in regard to the astragalus I am now about to describe 

 being considered that of an adult has been sufficiently answered by Mr. Busk I I may 

 state in addition that the same bone, belonging to the skeleton of a young Indian. 

 Elephant (2723) in the lloyal College of Surgeons, has the inner calcaneal facet nearly 



' Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 270. 



" The skeleton of a young Indian Elephant in the Museum of King's College, with the two milk-molars in 

 full wear and four ridges of the last milk-molar invaded— the height at the shoulder is 4 feet, the tibial facet 

 of the astragalus is 2-5 inches in antero-posterior and 2-6 inches in transverse diameter. 



' Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 269, and p. 270. no. 30 a i h. 



