AKSINOITIIEEIUM. 
59 
This bone is entirely nnlike the Proboscidean cuboid. It is more like the cuboid 
of Umtatherium, but differs from that in several respects — e. g. in the much smaller 
size of the calcaneal hicct. 
The metatarsals arc not definitely known, but the collections include a number of 
short and very massive metapodials which probably belong to the hind foot of this 
animal. Two of those are shown in text-fig. 35 Of these one (2 a, 2 c) probably 
belongs to a middle digit. Its proximal articulation (2 a) is gently convex from 
before backwards, but does not extend quite to the hinder surface of the bone, which 
is produced posteriorly into a large tuberosity. In front the proximal articulation is 
Metatarsals of ArsinoitJierium zitteli : 1 A, proximal end of lateral metatarsal ; 1 B, same specimen 
from front ; 2 a, proximal end of middle metatarsal ; 2 c, same specimen from front. 
mt., facet for adjacent metatarsal, g nat. size. 
produced considerably to one side, probably the post- axial, and bears a facet for 
articulation with the next metatarsal (mt.). The shaft of the bone is slightly 
contracted. The distal articulation is wide and consists of two surfaces, both 
convex from above downwards and concave from side to side and meeting at an 
angle on the distal end of the bone. The anterior and larger of these surfaces 
articulated with the first phalange and is limited above by a groove, above which is a 
strong rugose ridge extending across the whole face of the bone and produced 
laterally into tuberosities. The smaller posterior surface no doubt supported a 
sesamoid or a pair of sesamoids. 
