106 NATURAL HISTORY OF KERGUELEN ISLAND. 



to ijrotect the joint externally, and rises above the margin of acetaba- 

 lam. 



Tibia is mnch longer than femur, 3.30 inches. Its head is much ex- 

 panded, with a very prominent anterior flattened process, triangular in 

 shape and curved slightly outward. 



Fibula is distinct above; united to tibia by a thin, bony bridge along 

 the middle part of its course ; becoming free again as a very slender rod, 

 which is finally fused with tibia at about its center, and quite lost an 

 inch above its tarsal extremity. 



Tarso-metatarsus terminates in three double condyloid facets, claw- 

 like, partly separated. The outermost is shortest (highest), the middle 

 longest, and the innermost one intermediate in length. About one-tenth 

 of an inch above the junction of the middle and innermost elements is a 

 foramen quite through the bone from before backward, and about large 

 enough to admit an ordinary pin. From the head to the end of the 

 middle division of its lower part the bone measures 1.75 inches, to the 

 inner division, 1.65, and to the outer, 1.50, inches. 



Toes are four in number. The first toe, articulated to the metatarsus 

 above the level of the rest, has two elements. Its accessory metatarsal 

 is very short. The second toe, articulating with the inner condyle, 

 has three elements, successively diminishing in length. The third toe 

 has four elements, similarly diminishing ; and the fourth toe has five, of 

 which the first is longest, the second and fourth next and equal, the 

 third next, and the fifth shortest. 



Felvis is long, compressed anteriorly in the middle line of its dorsal sur- 

 face, expanded posteriorly, and diverging so as to include the sacrum. 

 The crests of the ilia extend so far forward as to cover the articulation of 

 the last rib, and are separated in the middle line only by the lumbar neu- 

 rapophyses, to which they are closely apposed, being turned up to form a 

 sheath. Eight-tenths of an inch from the anterior margin of the pelvis 

 the ilia begin to diverge, inclosing a hastate interval, which is filled up 

 by the sacrum. Here the dorsal surface of the ilia becomes convex 

 (from concave), presenting a well-defined, smooth surface for the origin 

 of the gluteal muscles. Posteriorly, the ilium ends in a sinuate border 

 limited externally by a prominent ridge, which terminates posteriorly 

 in a considerable spine, the tuberosity of the ischium. The acetabulum 

 is perforate, protected posteriorly and superiorly by a prominent bony 

 lip, which separates it from the ischiatic foramen. Between the ischi- 

 atic foramen and the acetabulum, and inferior to both, is the obturator 



