OCR Text |
Show 1880.] MR. E. R. ALSTON ON ANTECHINOMYS. 457 In the fore limb (fig. I) the scapula has the usual characters of the group, the spine being boldly deflected over the postscapular fossa. The humerus, which has the usual supracondylar foramen, is almost straight, slender and simple, with hardly any muscular impressions ; that of Podabrus is quite similar, but in Phascologale and Antechinus the bone is curved, and the deltoid and supinator ridges are very prominent. The greatly elongated radius is straighter in Antechinomys than in the allied forms, and consequently is closely applied to the ulna for the greater part of its length, although remaining perfectly free. The bones of the manus are small and delicate. Bones of fore limb of Antechinomys (a) and Antechinus (b). Bones of hind limb of Antechinomys (a) and Antechinus (b). In the hind limb (fig. 2) the femur is even more slender than in Podabrus, and the lesser trochanter is less developed. The tibia and fibula are elongated ; the latter is very slender, the former comparatively stout, and so little curved that it and the fibula, although quite free, are closely applied throughout their lower half; in the other forms these bones are only in contact near their lower extremities. The calcaneum is considerably produced behind, forming a very prominent tuber calcis. Only four metatarsals are present (the first being wanting), which are very slender and greatly elongated, |