19!4] Taylor: Aquatic Adaptation in the Carnivora 487 



at right angles to the rest of the innominate, the pelvis is rather 

 loosely connected to the sacrum, and the pubic bones (in the 

 adult animal) are not united except by cartilage, the symphyseal 

 line being extremely short. 



Figs. 10-12. Pelves of river otter, sea-otter, and seal. X Mi- 

 Fig. 10. Lateral view pelvis of Lutra canadensis. 

 Fig. 11. Lateral view pelvis of Latax lutris nereis. 

 Fig. 12. Lateral view pelvis of Phoca vitulina. 



Relation of Characters of Pelvis to Aquatic Adaptation. — 

 With the increase in importance of the hind limb as a paddle, 

 the muscles for the adduction and rotation of the femur and 

 extension of the tibia would augment in size. Several of the 

 muscles, as above indicated, are attached to the superior border 

 of the ilium ; so the flare of this part of the bone may be readily 

 accounted for as being a natatory modification. 



