112 



MA BINE EEPTILES OF THE OXFOED CLAY. 



it again slightly enlarges and bears an elongated oval facet, which was probably 

 cartilage-covered in life. This facet seems to have united with the ilium, while 

 posteriorly there was a slight union with the anterior process of the ischium. Probably 

 much cartilage persisted at this point, so that the bones were not in actual contact. 

 In any case there is no evidence that the pubis articulated only with the anterior 

 process of the ischium. 



The femur (text-fig. 45) is by far the largest of the limb-bones ; it is relatively 

 slender and greatly elongated, forming a very open S-shaped curve. The head (Ji.) is 

 closely similar to that of the femur in recent Crocodiles, though, perhaps, a little more 

 massive. It is strongly convex, the convex surface being truncated on its outer side 

 (o.s.) by the flat outer face of the bone ;* on the inner (acetabular) side there is a strong 

 rounded prominence (i.s.). The flattened outer face of the upper end of the bone is 



Text-fig. 45. 



o.s. 



Eight femur of Steneosavrus leedsi : A, inner (preaxial) view ; B, distal end ; C, proximal end. 



(E. 3806, | nat. size.) 



7t., head ; i.e., inner condyle ; i.e.g., intercondylar groove ; i.s., inner side of head ; ox., outer condyle ; 



o.s., outer side of head ; t., trochanterial surface. 



marked by a series of longitudinal rugosities ; the inner face beneath the head is also 

 roughened and is concave. A rugose surface on the inner face of the shaft is all that 

 represents the lesser trochanter (t,), which, in modern Crocodiles, forms a strong 

 prominence. Beyond this, for a short distance, the shaft becomes more slender and is 

 oval in section; beyond this, again, it is strongly compressed, its upper edge forming 

 a sharp keel, while below it remains rounded. The distal end in nearly all specimens 

 is much crushed, the central cavity of the bone in this region having been large and 

 the walls relatively thin. The condyles form strong convexities separated by an inter- 

 condylar groove [leg.), which is very deep posteriorly (ventrally). The outer (fibular) 

 condyle (o.c.) is considerably larger than the inner (i.e.). The whole articular surface 



