﻿120 



PLEISTOCENE MAMMALIA. 



almost the median line of the shaft. The lateral surfaces of the process on which it stands 

 are very nearly symmetrical (fig. 5, g g), the external (fig. 5, g) forming a slightly more 

 acute angle with the patellar articulation ; the condyles extend further behind than in Man, 

 and their lateral surfaces (figs. 4, 5, 1 1') are roughened for the attachment of the lateral 

 ligaments, and externally (figs. 4, 5, /) for the attachment of the extensor digitorum or 

 cnemodactylus of Straus-Durckheim. 



The condyles are separated by a very deep depression (fig. 5, h) for the crucial and 

 other ligaments, passing slightly inwards, and rendering the inner condyle slightly smaller 

 than the outer. 



Immediately above the condyles the posterior surface of the shaft is flattened, and on 

 its lateral edges are the internal and external tuberosities (fig. 4, mn), affording origin to the 

 gastrocnemii muscles. In the angles between the condyles and the shaft are two small 

 depressions (figs. 4, 5, n) for the lodgment of the sesamoid bones, called the external and 

 internal crithoids, which, with a third below the external, are usually termed fabellae. The 

 two former are in the tendons of the gastrocnemii, and the latter in that of the 

 popliteus. 



The position of the nutritive artery varies, sometimes piercing the shaft in the middle 

 of the lesser linea aspera, sometimes in the greater. 



A fine specimen of the spelaean femur was discovered by Dr. Schmerling 1 in the 

 caverns of Liege, and is figured in his great work. It agrees in every respect with the 

 German and English specimens. The figure is produced by M. de Blainville 2 in his 

 ' Osteographie.' 



§ 3. Measurements. — The following table shows the variations in the size presented 

 by the femora of F. spelaa, F. leo, and F. tigris. 



Table of Measurements of Femur in Eelis spel^a, E. leo, and E. tigris. 





Felis xpelaa. 



F. leo. 



F. tigris. 



JS . 





raunton Museum 





bo 







CO 



.=5 





Measurements of 

 Femur. 



— CD 









• CO 



S~fco 



> 



t/j 



<3 . 



a ** 

 O .J 



s 



,«9 . 













« to 



is 



a 







s 



c 





s § 



<4 



cw pq 





=£ppq 





°p; 



o 

 ■a 



O 



o 



T3 



o 



T3 



CD CD 



pq B 



F pq 



£ 



?■* 



Haw 



^« 





£ u 



a> 



09 



CD 



CD 



.a 



eg 





^<N 



"Si <N 



■<* 





pSH 



pq 



PQ 



M 



pq 



t» 



pq 





1— ( 



<Z 



i— » 



1 



16-65 











16-60 





14-40. 



14-5 



12-4 



14-2 



2 



5-00 









4-80 





4-2 



3-90 



4-2 



3-4 



33 



3 



3-00 



3-10 













2-50 



30 



2-3 



2-0 



4 



3-00 



3-10 













2-50 



3-0 



2-3 



23 



5 



3-20 





3-20 



3-00 





3-40 





3-00 



2-8 



2-6 



2-5 



6 



6-30 





5-80 



6-00 









4-60 



4-8 



4-5 



4-3 



1 Oss. Foss. de Liege, torn, ii., PI. xvi, fig. 2. 



2 Felis, PI. xviii, fig. b. 



