1848.] Anatomy of Aihiriis, Porcula, and Stylocerus, 479 



of the scapula is strongly developed, and at its anteal extremity termin- 

 ates in a cylindric process which advances as far forwards as the fore- 

 most part of the scapula, and appears designed to prevent dislocation 

 of the shoulder in climbing when there is a violent outward pressure on 

 the shoulder-joint. The acromion and coracoid are very slightly deve- 

 loped. The humerus is a single, stout, cylindric bone, as long as the 

 radius and furnished with very large articulating surfaces at each end, 

 especially the lower, towards which the strong ridge for the attachment 

 of the supinators is conspicuous. The radius and ulna are quite separate, 

 nearly equal in size and strength, cylindrico-depressed, with very ample 

 and perfect articulating surfaces. The olecranon is small, like the os- 

 calcis. The carpal bones are beautifully jointed so as to allow the freest 

 motion to the wrists ; and the digits play with the greatest freedom on 

 one another. The talons or claws, fore and aft, are very highly curved, 

 and much compressed. They have deep bases which are suddenly con- 

 tracted forwards where they are grooved underneath. Their points are 

 very sharp, and they can be turned over the penultimate phalanges as 

 completely as in Felis, but they are only partially sheathed. The femur 

 is as long as the tibia, a single, stout, cylindric bone, very similar in size 

 and form to the humerus, and like it, distinguished by its enlargement 

 at the distad end suited to afford room for the finest jointure. At its 

 proximate or upper end is a very distinct neck, oblique to the shaft, as 

 in the human subject, only thicker and shorter perhaps ; and the ball 

 and socket-joint whereby it is united to the pelvis is not so deep as in 

 man, so that the leg has much freer motion, very similar indeed to that 

 of the arm, wherein however the glenoid is not so round or so deep. 

 The tibia and fibula are completely separate ; the former stout ; the 

 latter, feeble, but both entering into the composition of the ankle-joint 

 and both cylindric in form. The tarsus is as finely articulated as the 

 carpus and the posteal digits have as free play as the anteal, both being 

 quite alike in size and shape. The above details of the skeleton of 

 Ailurus exhibit more conformity with the Plantigrade than with the 

 Digitigrade model, except in regard to the talons, which are thoroughly 

 feline or musteline. The separation of the ossa pubis* appears to be a 



* It is possibly only an effect of non-age. The interval of the bones is very 

 narrow. So short is the pubic bridge that it appears to run as much transversely 

 as longitudinally. 



