128 DE. H. r. STANDING ON SUBPOSSIL 



fore limbs necessitated by the disproportionately long legs of the extant members of 

 the genus. That their curvature is not a primitive character seems the more probable 

 since it is hardly noticeable in Archwolemur, Mesopropithecus, Palceopropithecus, or 

 indeed in the recent Indrisinse. 



It is interesting to observe that, although some of the characteristic features of the 

 humerus of the genus Lemur are absent in that of Megaladapis, the affinities are 

 nevertheless rather with the Lemurinse than with the Indrisinse. The size, shape, and 

 position of the lesser tuberosity, the form of the trochlear and capitular surfaces, the 

 curvature of the broad flange running down to the external epicondyle — these and 

 other features confirm the evidence already afforded by the skull that Megalacla-pis 

 belongs rather to the Lemurine than to the Indrisine group of Malagasy Lemuroids. 



Dr. Lorenz suggests that the Megaladapis was probably arboreal in its habits, 

 clinging to the trunks of trees and crawling along the branches. It hardly seems to 

 me likely that so large and massive an animal, as its skull and limb-bones show it 

 to have been, could in this manner conveniently reach either the leaves or fruits of 

 forest-trees. Its very massive jaws and strong cusped teeth seem, however, to be 

 adapted for feeding on the large hard fruits which occur abundantly in the forest 

 debris at Ampasambazimba. But fruits are found on the ground in profusion at 

 certain seasons in the Malagasy forests ; at the same time its long arms would enable 

 it to hang on to the branches of trees, serving in fact the same purpose as those of the 

 Gorilla and Chimpanzee. 



Palceopropithecus. — One nearly perfect and two fragmentary humeri (the former 

 marked No. 9 in Table 19) must be referred to Palceopropithecus (text-fig. 31). This 

 bone is of great interest when considered in connection with the supposed mode of 

 life of the animal. We have seen reason for suspecting that Paloeopropithecus was 

 aquatic, and several features of the humerus under consideration appear to confirm 

 that view. The bone is very short and massive, as the annexed figure will show. The 

 ridges and surfaces for muscular attachment are large and prominent, and the distal 

 end is of extraordinary breadth. The very large roughened entepicondyle indicates 

 the possession of powerful flexor muscles of the hand. Of its affinity with the 

 Indrisinse there is strong evidence : the very prominent deltoid ridge with clearly 

 marked surface of attachment for the great pectoral and deltoid muscles, the prominent 

 backwardly curving internal epicondyle retracted from the articular surface, the 

 regular cylindrical form of the trochlear surface — these and other features show its 

 family-connection with the recent Indrisinse. One peculiarity of this humerus is 

 worthy of notice as bearing on the mode of life of the animal. The limited extent 

 of the spherical surface for the articulation of the head of the radius shows that quite 

 full extension of the forearm has been impossible. This condition might well be due 

 to the fact that the fore-limb was probably mainly used in swimming. 



Archmolemur. — The bones marked 10 to 14 of Table 19 all appear to be referable 



