﻿FELIS SPELiEA. 133 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Metacarpals. Pis. XIX, fig. 6 ; XX, 6, 7 ; XXI, 1—5. 

 Phalanges. PI. XXI, figs. 6—14. 



CONTENTS. 



§ 1. Metacarpals. 



a. Introduction. 



(3. First metacarpal, 

 y. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, 

 metacarpals. 



b. Measurements. 



§ 2. Phalanges. 



a. First phalanges. 

 /3. Second „ 

 y. Measurements. 



§ 1. Metacarpals. a . Introduction. — As metacarpal bones of the genus Felis have to 

 perform very much the same functions in all the species, they present but few characters of 

 value in classification, the variation in the proportions observable in different individuals 

 of the same being frequently as great as in the closely allied species. For the most 

 part, however, the metacarpals of Felis spelaa, from the bone-caverns, are stouter and 

 stronger than those of the living Lion and Tiger ; but, on the other hand, some of 

 them are even smaller in every dimension than the average-sized bones of the two 

 latter animals ; the large series also from the caves of Somerset proves that there is a 

 gradual passage from the most massive to the most slender spelaean form ; size cannot, 

 therefore, be considered of specific value. We are fortunate in being able to give 

 figures of a complete set from the cavern of Sandford Hill (PI. XXI, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), 

 which belonged to an individual in the prime of life. They are remarkable for their 

 straightness and stoutness, and the fourth presents a variation which we shall describe in 

 its due place. We have also figured the proximal end of a fourth metacarpal of the small 

 form from Bleadon Cave (PI. XX, fig. 6), and a remarkably small fifth from the hysena- 

 den of Wookey Hole (PI. XX, fig. 7). A gigantic second metacarpal from the lower 

 brickearths of Crayford is also figured (PI. XIX, fig. 6). 



The metacarpals when united form a compact transverse arch, the convexity being 

 dorsal, and the concavity palmar ; the latter transmits the tendons of the flexor and 

 adductor muscles to their points of insertion in the phalanges. 



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