ELEPHAS PRIMIGENIUS.— FEMUR, 1G3 



that of E. meridionalis (fig. 5) is narrower than either. J low far these characters admit 

 of constancy in the three species can only be determined by comparisons of numerous 

 examples. I must state, however, that several specimens referable to E. meridionalis 

 maintain the aspect of the proximal extremity shown in fig. 5. 



The average length of the third metacarpal in the Mammoth seldom exceeds 

 85 inches. 



Fourth digit. — There are apparently no characters of a reliable nature in the fourth 

 metacarpal in connection with recent and extinct species to require particular notice. 

 The bone averages from 7 to 8 inches in length in the Mammoth, whereas specimens 

 referable to E. meridionalis or E. antiquus, from the Norfolk submerged deposits, attain 

 to almost 9 inches, and fragments indicate even longer bones. 



Fifth digit. — The fifth metacarpal is not so broad in the Mammoth and Asiatic as in 

 the African Elephant, and the unciform facet is circular in outline in the two former 

 generally, although specimens show an approach to that of the African, which is oval. 



The proximal phalanx appears generally more compressed at midshaft in the Asiatic 

 and Mammoth than in Specimen 708n (African) in the British Museum. There are 

 other small points with reference to the distal articular surfaces possibly distinctive of 

 the bone in the recent Elephant of Asia as compared with the African, but these are 

 irregular in the Mammoth. 



There is seemingly a wide difference in all these characters in the equivalent bone of 

 E. meridionalis (Plate XVIII, figs. 8 and 8 a), more especially in the contour of the 

 proximal articular surface, as will be indicated in the sequel. 



Phalanges. 



The phalanges of the first, second, and fifth digits show apparently several differences 

 in the recent species, more especially the proximal and distal elements, as recorded 

 elsewhere, 1 and as far as I have been enabled to compare them with similar bones of the 

 Mammoth they show closer affinities with the Asiatic than with the African Elephant. 



9. FEMUR. 



The comparisons of Cuvier and De Blainville in relation to the humerus have the 

 same force with reference to the femora of the two living species. As regards the 

 Mammoth, out of numerous instances from the Arctic region and British strata, it appears 

 to me that the thigh, like the arm, was relatively shorter than in the recent Elephants. 

 But at the same time there is marked variability in individuals of many species of 

 Proboscidea. 



1. Comparing the length and direction of the neck in many instances of the 

 1 Adams, ' Trans. Zool. Soc. London,' vol. ix, p. 90. 



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