Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 31.djvu/841

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ROCK-FISSURE CAVERN IN CRESWELL CRAGS.
685

The extreme length of this vertebra, measured from the summit of the odontoid process, is 2⋅35 inches, and its transverse diameter, at the anterior articular facets, 1⋅5 inch. Both these bones are rather larger than the corresponding vertebræ of the common Wolf, with which I have compared them; but otherwise they present no distinctive characters.

4. Several other vertebræ, including an entire fifth cervical, a broken dorsal, &c.

5. The greater part of the left humerus, wanting the proximal end.

6. The proximal half, or nearly so, of the right ulna, corresponding in size.

7. The proximal end of the left ulna, of smaller size.

8. A large portion of the left tibia, of which the proximal epiphysis is detached; but notwithstanding the immaturity of the bone, the shaft is fully as large as that of the common Wolf.

9. Two left third metacarpals, one measuring 3⋅4 inches and the other 3 inches in length.

10. A fourth metacarpal, 2⋅9 inches long.

11. Two right fourth metatarsals, one measuring 3⋅4, and the other 3⋅2 inches.

12. Two fragments of ribs, including the head and angle—one larger than the other.

13. A fragment of the pelvis, showing part of the acetabulum.

14. Various teeth, and other more or less fragmentary bones.

From the above it would appear that the collection includes the remains of at least two individual Wolves, one of larger size than the other, and showing, in size and in some other respects at present indecisive, characters not unlike those of C. Occidentalis.

2. C. vulpes.

The common Fox, or one corresponding with it in size, is represented by several bones, amongst which may be specified:—

1. An almost complete left os innominatum with the acetabulum entire, and with about half the foramen ovale remaining. The acetabulum has a diameter of 0⋅5 inch, and the latter a longitudinal diameter of about 0⋅8 inch.

2. A small fragment of the right os innominatum, differing from the preceding in colour and thickness.

3. An almost entire humerus of an immature animal, wanting the proximal epiphysis.

4. Several canines and other teeth, &c., all in character corresponding with those of the common Fox.

3. C. lagopus.

The presence of the Arctic Fox depends unfortunately only upon the evidence of a single, or perhaps of two specimens.

That upon which I rely in the diagnosis is a nearly entire axis vertebra. This single bone, however, which is nearly black in colour (in that respect corresponding with the larger Wolf), appears to me