122 Wortman— Studies of Eocene Mammalia in the 



matter of the distal facets of the. first phalanges, I have taken 

 the trouble to make careful and extensive comparisons of 

 numerous species of these two types, and I find that the differ- 

 ences in the arrangement, extent, and planes, are as little 

 marked as they are in the distal ends of the metapodials, and, 

 in themselves, afford as little evidence of the difference in gait 

 of the two animals. The conclusion is therefore obvious, and 



70 



Figure 70. — Right hind foot of Patriofelis ferox Marsh ; three-eighths natural 

 size. (After Wortman.) 



I think enough has been said to show that the planes of the 

 articular facets, as applied to the feet of the Carnivora, have 

 little or no value in determining whether a given animal is 

 plantigrade or digitigrade. 



Let us next direct our attention to the feet of Patriofelis. 

 I find it necessary, first -of all, to state that the position in 

 which Osborn has placed the phalanges, in the diagram, instead of 

 being less angulate than those of Pelis, are decidedly more so. 

 It certainly, therefore, does not occupy a position between 

 Proeyon and Pelis, but a position more advanced in this par- 

 ticular than Felis itself, the fallacy of which will be evident 

 to any anatomist at a glance. Either the diagram is wrong or 

 the statement is incorrect, since both cannot be true. 



