﻿FBLIS SPEL^A. Ill 



through its anterior and posterior edges. In the Bears it projects beyond this, and in the 

 Hyaenas it does not overhang any portion of the glenoid cavity. Behind the acromion the 

 spine gradually throws off a laminar process (a) at right angles to itself, scalene-triangular 

 in outline that overhangs the infra-spinal fossa, and affords attachment to the transverso- 

 scapular and delto- acromial muscles. This delto-acromial process affords an excellent 

 means of determining the scapula of the Carnivores. In the Subursines, Glutton, Badger, 

 and the like, it is nearly of the same form as in Felis ; in Canis and Hyaena it is much 

 smaller and less strongly defined, while in the Bear it is replaced by a broad massive 

 process extending nearly equally on both sides of the spine. The development and form 

 is closely connected with the rapid and free movement of the fore limb. The spine 

 gradually recovers its verticality at a point about two inches from the acromion. 



The infra-spinal fossa (e), bounded anteriorly by the spine, and posteriorly by the 

 axillary border (i), is a broad smooth triangular surface, slightly concave inferiorly, slightly 

 convex above, occupied for the most part by the infra-spinatus muscle. The degree of 

 curvature varies in the Lions, and is reduced to nothing in the Tigers. The strong 

 axillary border (i) is well rounded on the outer surface, sharp on the extreme edge, and 

 concave on the inner surface. It bears impressions for the attachment of muscles through 

 its whole length, though from its having belonged to a comparatively young animal they 

 are hardly so sharply defined as in the older bones. They form an irregular line of small 

 tubercles («) running from the neck of the bone and dying away as they reach the level of 

 the insertion of the teres major muscle. They represent the linea obliqua of human 

 anatomy, which is extremely prominent in the Bear and recent Lion : while it is rounded in 

 the Tiger. It gives attachment to the teres minor muscle : that of the teres major oocupies 

 precisely the same position in the figured scapula as in Lion and Tiger, being situated on 

 the inner edge of the upper portion of the axillary border, and must not be confounded 

 with the strongly-marked impression, at nearly the same level on the outer border, which 

 belongs to the superior portion of the teres minor {h). 



Internal surface. — The internal surface is for the most part smooth, and without 

 strongly marked ridges. The lower two thirds are longitudinally convex, while the upper 

 third is slightly concave ; from the glenoid cavity to the insertion of the teres major the 

 convexity gradually increases, so as to form a well-defined border to the smooth and 

 nearly flat area, which extends to the part immediately underlying the spine, which 

 is concave. We do not figure this surface, because it presents no characters of 

 importance. 



§ 3. Measurements. — The superior size of the Spelaean Lion, as compared with the 

 living Lion and Tiger, is shown in the following table. 



The long diameter of the glenoid cavity of a spelaean scapula from the caverns of Liege, 

 given by Dr. Schmerling is 2-6 inches, the short 1*8 inches. 



