PROFESSOR OWEN ON MACROPUS. 437 



4to, 1814, vol. ii. tab. v.), the entire length is 8 inches 8 lines, that of the marsupial 

 bone being 2 inches 7 lines, as in the pelvis of the male M. rufus, which measures in 

 length 12 inches. 



§ 6. Bones of the Hind Limbs. 



The characteristics of the femur in the Kangaroos (Macropodidee) are : — 1, the 

 height of the great trochanter, which seems due to a superimposed additional and 

 anchylosed tuberosity (PL LXXXI. figs. 1, 2, 3, /), divided by an antero-intemal 

 constriction fi-om the part below ; 2, the length and strength of the small trochanter 

 (ib. n) ; 3, a rough, well-defined tract {p) from the middle of the hind surface (fig. 2) 

 of the shaft, outstanding, in large species, like a " third trochanter ;" 4, the rough 

 depression (ib. figs. 2, 3, y) above the outer condyle (ib. v) ; 5, the great transverse 

 extent of the articular surface of that condyle by the production of its outer part, 

 changing there the convexity into a concavity transversely (fig. 2, v). With these may 

 be noted the length and depth of the post-trochanterian fossa (fig. 2, I). 



In M. rufus there is a small tuberosity (fig. 3. g) a few lines below the pointed 

 termination of the ectotrochanterian ridge (ib. h). The medullarterial hole is at the 

 inner side of the hind tuberosity {p) : the canal leads downward and inward. A 

 " linea aspera " is continued from the small trochanter (e) two thirds of the way down 

 the inner side of the shaft. The convex fore part of the outer condyle (fig. 1, s) is 

 prominent ; the rotular (r) and condylar (s, t) surfaces are continuous. 



In most Macropodidse the bones of the leg are remarkable for then- superiority of 

 length as compared with that of the thigh. In M. rufus, as in M. rrvajor, the tibia is 

 nearly twice the length of the femur. Its head (PI. LXXXII. fig. 4) is peculiar for 

 the excess of antero-posterior over transverse diameter ; the outer facet of the triedral 

 shaft (ib. fig. 1, ^) is more remarkable for its deep excavation, and the sharpness and 

 production of the ridges dividing it from the inner and hinder facets: but these 

 characters are limited to the proximal half of the bone; at the distal half the surfaces 

 are more or less flattened and the dividing angles rounded ; the anterior one, a con- 

 tinuation of the proximal procnemial ridge (A), is least so ; and the hind facet of the 

 distal half (ib. fig. 6) is feebly concave across. 



The outer articular surface (ib. fig. 4, a) is feebly convex across at its outer half, 

 becoming concave where it rises upon the side of the " spine " (c). The inner 

 articular surface (§), convex at its outer third, is then slightly concave, and becomes 

 more so as it ascends upon the " spine." The latter part, so called in anthropotomy, 

 is an oblong tuberosity (c) rising behind, 3 lines in advance of the intercondylar 

 notch [y), to a height of 5 lines, and subsiding a little in advance of the inner articular 

 surface {b); the fore-and-aft extent of its base is 11 lines. The fore part of the head of 

 the tibia, in advance of the condyles, gradually contracts to an anterior tuberosity 

 (ib. fig. 4, g), the non-articular surface behind which is less rough, is moderately 



