500 Sub-Himalayan Fossil Remains [Aug. 



except at the lower part of the great trochanter, the specimen affords 

 ample means of comparison with the femur of the existing species. 



On reverting to the table of dimensions it will be observed, that this 

 fossil exceeds, as did also the humerus, any of those in Cuvier's table 

 of existing species. The preceding columns show in what respects the 

 proportions of the bone vary from those deduced from Cuvier's 

 Indian rhinoceros. The length of the femur is here the modulus. 



From a comparison of the two first columns in the above table there 

 results, that the fossil has a greater development at its upper and a some- 

 what less development at its lower extremity than is the case in the In- 

 dian rhinoceros. The third trochanter is set lower down, and the inferior 

 extremity of the small trochanter higher up than in the existing species ; 

 the articulating head is larger in proportion in the fossil than in the 

 Indian rhinoceros. None of these modifications however are excessive ; 

 on the contrary, they are less than those which exist amongst the 

 fossils themselves, which are all three undoubtedly of the same species. 



From the manner in which the lower and exterior part of the great 

 trochanter is broken, there is every probability that a descending 

 point protruded from the fractured surface towards the third trochan- 

 ter, the ascending point of which is very perfect. 



The third trochanter, however, differs from that of the existing species 

 as figured in Cuvier's Oss. Foss. in not possessing the double point; 

 for it has a single well defined ascending process, without any sign of 

 the bicuspid termination. The lower edge of this trochanter, instead 

 of ascending with a gradual swell towards the point, as in the existing 

 species, has a counter curvature to that of the upper edge. The chief 

 dissimilarity between Cuvier's plate and the fossil occurs in this part 

 of the bone, the third trochanter assuming a different shape, and 

 offering a variation more distinctive than any other presented in either 

 extremity. This circumstance, together with some of the proportions 

 of the cranium, has led us for the present to distinguish these remains 

 by appending the word fossil to the name of that species of which 

 they are the prototype : but we dwell on the necessity of more ex- 

 tended research, and the collection of a greater series of tables of 

 dimensions of the Indian rhinoceros, before any thing absolutely con- 

 clusive can be pronounced with regard to the fossil and existing 

 species. 



We have had no hesitation in ascribing the two limbs dug up in 

 Such close neighbourhood to the same animal ; an additional confirma- 

 mation of the correctness of the assumption may be derived from the 

 proportion which exists between these two extremities, when compared 

 with that which occurs in the Indian rhinoceros. 



