| OCR Text |
474 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [June 6, trochanter is largely developed, and there is a large process above outer condyle. In Crocuta there is no marked process of the kind, and the lesser trochanter is but of moderate size. In Proteles, which has a long and slender femur, the small trochanter is little developed, but there is a process above the outer condyle. The Tibia and Fibula. The absolutely longest tibia is 30"*2 (Tiger). The greatest proportional lengths to the spine at 100 are 31*8 (Felis) and 29*1 (Galidictis). The least proportion in Felis is 24*7. Its least proportion in the Viverrida is 19*3 (Viverricula); and its greatest after Galidictis is 28*6 and 28*4 (Genetta and Hemigalidia). I have found it equal to the femur in length in Nandinia, Herpestes, Crossarchus, and almost so in Proteles. I have found it longer than the femur in the Wild Cat and Domestic Cats (but not the large Cats), the Civet, Genet, Bdeogale, Cynictis, Suricata, Galidictis, Galidia, and Eupleres. I have found it shorter than the femur in the larger Cats and in Viverricula, Paradoxurus, Hemigalea, Arctictis Cynogale, Cryptopacta, and the Hyanina. The tibia is always longer than the radius, except in the Hyanina, where it is shorter. The tibia of Hemigalea is remarkable for the very great projection mesiad of the internal malleolus, which allows the pes to be more obliquely articulated, so that the plantar surface may be directed more inwards than in most iEluroids. In Paradoxurus the same condition exists, though in a less marked degree. In Eupleres the fibula is exceptionally strong amongst the Viverrida, and the process at its distal end is very strongly developed outwards and postaxially. The Pes. The greatest length of the pes (measured from the front of the distal end of the tibia to the end of the fourth digit) is 30"*7 (Felis); the least is 16"*2 (Crocuta), In the Viverrida I have found it range from 25"*3 (Galidictis and Suricata) to 16""3 (Viverra civetta). The length of the pes is always greater than that of the manus, except in Crocuta. They are exceptionally equal in Arctictis, where, the manus being as 100, the pes is 119*7. The greatest relative length of the fourth metatarsal is 15*1 (Felis), and the least is 8*0 (Cynogale). The length of the fourth metatarsal corresponds with the third metacarpal. The metatarsus is proportionally most elongate in the Felida. It is shortest and stoutest in the Viverrida, especially in such forms as Arctictis, Cynogale, and Hemigalea. There is no hallux, save a rudimentary metatarsal, in the Felida, Hyanida, Cynictis, Bdeogale, and Suricata. Though present in all the other genera, its length, compared with that of the index of the pes, may vary considerably. The hallux (when developed) always extends half down the metatarsal of the index. It may only extend about half down the meta- |
