FELIS SPELAA. 133 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Meracarpats. Pls. XIX, fig. 6; XX, 6,7; XXI, 1—5. 
Puatanexs. Pl. XXI, figs. 6—14. 
CONTENTS. 
§ 1. Metacarpals. § 2. Phalanges. 
a. Introduction. a. First phalanges. 
f. First metacarpal. B. Second ,, 
y. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, y. DMeasurements. 
metacarpals, 
5. Measurements. 
§ 1. Metacarpals. a. Introduction —As metacarpal bones of the genus Felis have to 
perform very much the same functions in all the species, they present but few characters of 
value in classification, the variation in the proportions observable in different individuals 
of the same being frequently as great as in the closely allied species. For the most 
part, however, the metacarpals of Felis spelea, from the bone-caverns, are stouter and 
stronger than those of the living Lion and Tiger; but, on the other hand, some of 
them are even smaller in every dimension than the average-sized bones of the two 
latter animals ; the large series also from the caves of Somerset proves that there is a 
gradual passage from the most massive to the most slender spelean form ; size cannot, 
therefore, be considered of specific value. We are fortunate in being able to give 
figures of a complete set from the cavern of Sandford Hill (Pl. XXI, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), 
which belonged to an individual in the prime of life. They are remarkable for their 
straightness and stoutness, and the fourth presents a variation which we shall describe in 
its due place. We have also figured the proximal end of a fourth metacarpal of the small 
form from Bleadon Cave (Pl. XX, fig. 6), and a remarkably small fifth from the hyzna- 
den of Wookey Hole (Pl. XX, fig. 7). A gigantic second metacarpal from the lower 
-brickearths of Crayford is also figured (Pl. XIX, fig. 6). 
The metacarpals when united form a compact transverse arch, the convexity being 
dorsal, and the concavity palmar; the latter transmits the tendons of the flexor and 
adductor muscles to their points of insertion in the phalanges. 
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