OCR Text |
Show •}(54 DR. J. MURIE ON T H E [May 26, The cannon-bone of the pectoral extremity is an elegant subcircular rod, 8*1 inches long, and grooved behind for more than three-quarters of its proximal length. The six phalanges of the digits present no features worthy ot remark, further than that they have sesamoid bones appended posteriorly behind their articulating surfaces. The first phalanx is 1*8 inch, the second 1 inch in length. (b) Posterior limb.-The formation of the pelvis is of the same long, narrow, and light build characterizing both Antelopes and Deer. The" brim has a blunt oval figure, the conjugate diameters being, however, nearly equal. The elongated neck of the ilium has a blade with moderately broad wings, and everted anterior superior spinous processes (a. s.sp); the external muscular impressions on this are divided mesially by an elevated ridge. The acetabulum is wide, shallow, and with deep synovial notch. The symphysial portion of the pubic bones is flattish, wide, and indeed rather broad above ; it is 3 inches long, with a roughened symphysis ; the subpubic angle is obtuse. There is only a moderate expansion of the usual tripodal-figured ruminant ischium ; the tuber ischii (ti) is broadly rounded, and not prominent as is the external ischial spine (e.sp). The pelvic measurements are as undernoted : - inches. Extreme length from the anterior superior spinous process to tuberosity of ischium 8*5 Greatest breadth (crests of ilia) 5*5 Distance between external ischial spines .-. .. 5*2 Brim of pelvis (ant. post, diam.) 3*2 Brim of pelvis (transverse diam.) - 2*2 From centre of acetabulum to tip of crest of ilium ........ 4*5 Symphisis pubis 2*8 The head of the femur is subglobular and small. The great trochanter, laterally flattened, rises \ an inch higher than the head. The trochanteric fossa is, as in other ruminants, wide, but only moderately deep. The stoutish shaft, though less so than in Dama vulgaris, has usually a slight forward bend; and the nutrient foramen obliquely penetrates the front of the shaft at its upper fourth. The linea aspera is both broad and well defined. Though the distal extremity of the thio*h-bone does not offer such comparative magnitude as in the Giraffe, its condyles nevertheless are large and backwardly extending; the outer is the larger and most tuberose. The groove and pit for the popliteus muscle is not so well marked as in Dama vulgaris. As regards the fibula, in its non-development of shaft, depending spicule representing its upper extremity or head, and inferior kidney-shaped and separate bone homologous with its styloid process the structure resembles that of Sheep. The tibia has a length of 10*3 inches. The head is large, the anterior tuberosity or cnemial prominence moderate and sharp-edged in front. The groove for the tibialis-anticus tendon is deep and broad. The shaft is stoutish, convex anteriorly, but doubly |