Chap. IV. 



DIFFERENCES IN THEIR SKELETONS. 



123 



could be distinguished. In the large lop-eared rabbits the whole upper 

 part of the ilium is straighter, or less splayed outwards, than m the wild 

 rabbit; and the tuberosity on the inner lip of the anterior and upper part 

 of the ilium is proportionally more prominent. 



Sternum.— The posterior end of the posterior sternal bone in the wild rabbit 

 (fig. 15, a)' is thin and slightly enlarged; in some of the large lop-eared 

 rabbits (b) it is much more enlarged towards the extremity; whilst in 

 other specimens (c) it keeps nearly of the same breadth from end to end, 

 but is much thicker at the extremity. 



Fig. 15.— Terminal, bone of 

 Sternum, of natural size. 

 A. Wild Rabbit. B. Hare- 

 coloured, Lop-eared Rabbit. 

 C. Hare-coloured, Spanish 

 Rabbit. (N.B. The left- 

 hand angle of the upper 

 articular extremity of B 

 was broken, and has been 

 accidentally thus repre- 

 sented.) 



-Acromion of Scapula, of natural size. 

 A. Wild Rabbit. B, C, D. Large, Lop-eared 



Rabbits. 



Scapula. — The acromion sends out a rectangular bar, ending in an oblique 

 knob, which latter in the wild rabbit (fig. 16, a) varies a little in shape 

 and size, as does the apex of the acromion in sharpness, and the part just 

 below the rectangular bar in breadth. But the variations in these respects 

 in the wild rabbit are very slight ; whilst in the large lop-eared rabbits they 

 are considerable. Thus in some specimens (b) the oblique terminal knob 

 is developed into a short bar, forming an obtuse angle with the rect- 

 angular bar. In another specimen (c) these two unequal bars form 

 nearly a straight line. The apex of the acromion varies much in breadth 

 and sharpness, as may be seen by comparing figs, b, c, and d. 



Limbs. — In these I could detect no variation ; but the bones of the feet 

 were too troublesome to compare with much care. 



I have now described all the differences in the skeletons 

 which I have observed. It is impossible not to be struck with 

 the high degree of variability or plasticity of many of the 

 bones. We see how erroneous the often-repeated statement 

 is, that only the crests of the bones which give attachment to 

 muscles vary in shape, and that only parts of slight importance 



