Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-09

The following paper, which we md in the
Cincinnati Gazette, was prepared by DR.. A. J.
Howe and read by him at meeting of the Gin
cinnati Natural His tory Society. Hehad before
him, while reading it, fossil remains of an
ancient animal, which indicate that a race of
marsupials resembling kaugaroos, formerly ex-
listed on this continent. But here is the paper:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: These bones, consisting of
thirteen Vertebr8 and pelvic girdle, were ex-
eayated from 1iuvial deposits constituting the
bank of ravine which sends riVulet to
tributary of the Hooking river, in Athens
county, Ohio. Some laborers, while making a
foundation for an abutment to support a via
duct Of the canal which crosses the valley or
rayine, stumbled upon these bones in the solid
earth, at depth Of many feet from the surface
of the ground.
hasty glance reveals nothing noteworthy in
this fragment of skeleton which the laborers
may have considered as belonging to dog
wolf, or wildcat. But careful examination Of
each feature in this chain of bones shows that
the specimen IS something OF puzzle for the
comparative anatomist
The weight of the bones leads to the presump-
ton that they are "foSsip' and partially petri-
fed. The fbrous material belonging to the
soft parts of the animal, and now adhering to
the bones, proves that the specimen has not
drifted about from place to place, for exposure
of sun and rain, will soon rob the bones of the
more perishable tissues. 1t is probable, then,
that these bones remained in the SPOT where
they were buried until tho recent uneaYthinp.
Two or three small bones, constituting the
caudal YertebrR, were dsentombed at the same
time the others were thrown out but, being
small, and in separate pieces, were lost.
The VertebrR of the dorso-lumbar regions
are bound quite firmly together by the original
lnterYertebral substance which now appears to
be tanned The sacral Yertebre are consolidated
as such bones usually are in the higher animals.
A gentleman Of intelligence, who saw the caudal
vertebr@ which are now lost, says they tapered
rapidly 10 terminal point, not unlike the eaudal
appendage OF birds or short-tailed animals.
Seven OF the ten VertebrG are lumbar and three
are dorsal, the latter bearing marks of having
supported ribs. The upper or anterior bone Of
the dorsal group bears perpendicular spine
tantlchnal), and constitutes what is called the
centre OF motion in many quadrupeds Toward
this anticlinal vertebra the other spinous pro-
cesses above and below are directed.
The dorsal veTtebra are notably smaller than
the average Of the lumbar group, which indicates
mat the animal possessed much larger posterior
than anterior extfemitieS. The lower lumbar
vertebra is much smaller than Its felloWe, and
its short spinous process is very nearly vertical,
though in general aspect the spine conforms to
the spinous crests Of the sacral VertebrR and
constitutes second "anticlinal process" or
SCuhIS VI luOllOus lie LlllOulC NerTeDra of the
lumbar group is perceptibly the largest, and its
spinous process partakes of the quadriateral
shape.
In general features these vertrebal bones do
not differ essentially from corresponding verte-
bre in some other animals OF about the same
size. The body" or Centrum" OF such verte-
br@ bears no marked characteristics: and the
neural canal is quite like that in other verebral
chains. The spinous processes resemble cores
ponding spines in the dog and the monkey. In
other prominent points the bones bear distinct
i've marks which indicate the kind of animal
possessing them. The transverse processes
(dtdpophVseS) of the lumbar vertebr@ are very
long, and project downward and forward. The
'oblique" or articular processes (zi0dpophvses)
exhibit the "mortse and tenor" manner of
junction, an observable reptlian aspect. Two
other processes, not described in human auat-
omy, are prominent and distinctive in this frag-
ment OF vertetral chain. These processes
having no common names, must be called by
the terms given to them by the comparative
anatomlst. The mamillary projections which
spring upward, outward and forward from the
oblique processes, becoming almost bfd at
their extremities, with prominent tubercle in
front, are known in scientific anatomy as meta
pophyseS, and the more delicate styloid spines
projecting forward from the lumine of each
Vertebre, except the last lumbar, are called
d1ldpOphySes. These slender processes consti-
tute so prominent feature of these VertebrR,
OePOSiuily vi Luo Done OF the
chain, that the marsupial character Of the ami
NAL is indicated.
The sacrum consists Of three consolidated
Vertebre, and the first of the group has no
spinous process, its place being needed by the
spine OF the last lumbar, which, as before
stated, is anticlinal, and apparently a centre of
motion. The spnes of the other two sacral
vertebre are blended and project forward The
last sacral Vertebrae sends backward two long
dlapophyses, or "cOrnua," to guard and
strengthen the sacro-caudal articulation; and
the small articular processes, the contracted
Centrum" and the diminutive neural canal
show that the tail of the animal must have
been short, and perhaps more slender and
pointed than the caudal appendages OF the
kOala and the wombat.
There is great diversity In the caudal deyel-
opment and functions of marsupial animals. The
kangaroo has long tail, which, with the two
hind feet forms tripod for the sitting posture,
and instrument of propulsion while the animal
takes its peculiar leaps. The Virginia opossIIm
has prehensile tail, and is the only liyinU
of the marsupialia in North
America. The "haunch" bones of this FRAGMENT
of a skeleton are decidedly marsupial in cbarac-
ter, though the "pectineal tubercle" is NOT de-
veloDed into the salient process usually found
in the kangaroo. However, this "tubercle" on
the pectineal crest is an drticatldr process bear
ing unmstakable evidence ofhaving sustained n
marsupial bone, and clearly demonstrates the
character of the animal
The tuberosties of the ischia project promi
nently outward as they do in the wombat. The
Symphysis is wide like that of marsupas; and
has an osseous blending characteristic OF the pei
Wis Of the kangaroo.
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