﻿Vol. 6 1.] OSSIFEROUS CAVERN AT L0NGCL1FEE. 49 



therefore, to find among the Longcliffe specimens several limb-bones 

 referable to this species. Although no teeth or parts of the skull 

 were met with, the limb-bones are unmistakably those of a cat. 

 The straight femur, the angular shaft of the tibia, the perforated 

 humerus, as well as the forms of the metatarsal and metacarpal 

 bones, agree precisely with the corresponding parts of a large cat. 

 These bones are much bigger than those of an ordinary domestic 

 cat ; but they agree in length and form with those of a male 

 European wild cat in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. 1 

 They are, however, much stouter, and indicate an animal of very 

 robust proportions. The bones which have been recovered are 

 parts of a humerus, a radius, an ulna, and a metacarpal, also an 

 ilium with the acetabulum, two femurs, a tibia, and two metatarsals. 



Measurements of the Femur and Tibia of the Wild Cat, in millimetres. 



Femur, greatest length 1360 



Do. least circumference 33*0 



Tibia, greatest length 146*0 



Do. least circumference 31*5 



It is just possible that these bones belonged to one animal, and 

 they were all found in the lower stratum ; but, seeing that some of 

 them were found towards the south- south-eastern end (No. 9), and 

 others towards the north-north-western end (No. 11), that is, 45 feet 

 apart, this is uncertain. 



Besides the above-mentioned bones of wild cat, there is one ulna 

 of a much smaller cat, which was found above the stalagmite-floor 

 (No. 6), that is, some 13 feet above the wild cat's remains. 



Hy^na crocitta, Erxleben. (Spotted Hyaena.) 



The remains of Hycena are much more abundant in this cave 

 than are those of any other carnivore ; indeed, if we except Bos 

 and Cervus, Hycena is better represented than any other genus. 

 Portions of jaws, teeth, and bones from all parts of the skeleton 

 have been obtained, some in a very perfect condition, as well as 

 coprolites ; but the latter not very abundantly. Further evidence of 

 the presence of living hyaenas is to be seen in the gnawed bones 

 of other animals which have been found. 



The hyaena-bones themselves need no special description : they 

 evidently belong to the form so generally met with in caves, which 

 has been called Hycena sjoelcea, but is now believed to be the same 

 as the living African spotted form, Hycena crocuta. Remains of 

 Hycena have been met with in all parts of this cave where bones 

 have been found, and in every layer between No. I and No. 11. 



Canis ltjpxjs, Linn. (Wolf.) 



This species is represented by four metapodial bones, which, at 



1 We desire to take this opportunity of thanking Prof. Charles Stewart, the 

 courteous Curator of the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, 

 for the facilities which he has afforded us, on this and many other occasions, 

 for the examination of the unique osteological collection under his charge, as 

 well as for valued help in the solution of some difficult osteological problems. 



Q.J.G.S. No. 241. e 



