﻿FELIS SPEL^A. 



17 



Cuboid, figs. 4, 4', 4". 



The general form of this bone is well expressed by the name, the bounding surfaces 

 being roughly at right angles to each other ; the distal surface, however, being larger than 

 the proximal. 



The outer and posterior or lower surfaces are traversed, diagonally and downwards, by 

 a deep groove for the tendon of the peroneus longus (figs. 4, 4', 4", b, b) ; a continuation 

 of the groove being formed on the outer and distal surface of the calcaneum in an upward 

 direction, and by the hook of the ectocuneiform and the process on the hinder part of the 

 naviculare in the opposite and transverse direction. 



The proximal or calcaneal articulation (fig. 4, 4', c) is nearly flat and subcircular. 

 The distal or metatarsal articulation (fig. 4, 4", d) is concave, and may be described as 

 an oval, the outer side being bent inwards so as slightly to resemble a B in outline, while 

 that of the ectocuneiform is trapezoidal and nearly flat (fig. 4, 4', a). 



The difference in size is the only difference we can remark between this bone and that 

 of the recent lions and tigers. In some specimens of tigers we have observed a dis- 

 position in the tarsal articulations generally to separate up into small surfaces, whereas 

 in the lion and Felis spelaa they appear to coalesce to a greater extent, and this is 

 especially the case in the cuboid. 



Measurements. 





Felis spelosa, Bleadon, 



Lion 



Lion, Br. Museum, 



Lion, 



Tiger, 





Taunton. 



W. A. S. 



112 L. 



Col. Surg. 



Br. Mus., 114 L. 



1 



1-39 



1-04 



1-00 



105 



1-10 



2 



4-22 



300 



3-25 



3-80 



3-27 



3 



1-36 



070 



0-86 



090 



090 



4 



1-36 



1-00 



061 



0-68 



078 



5 



1-20 



1-00 



0-81 



0-82 



076 



6 



124 



0-98 



0-86 



0-82 



0-94 



The only specimen we know of is from Bleadon. It evidently belongs to the same 

 individual as the calcaneum and several other bones of the tarsus, which we have figured. 

 Schnierlirfg gives rough figures of this bone, apparently taken from an imperfect speci- 

 men. They appear to be the external and posterior views, but one of them is reversed in 

 position (' Oss. foss. de Liege,' t. ii, pi. xvii, fig. 5). 



