anto feral
rabbits, had a haemal spine; whilst in four skeletons of large lop-eared
rabbits, and in the Himalayan rabbit, this same vertebra had a
well-developed haemal spine.

_Pelvis._--In four wild specimens this bone was almost absolutely
identical in shape; but in several domesticated breeds shades of
differences {123} could be distinguished. In the large lop-eared
rabbits the whole upper part of the ilium is straighter, or less
splayed outwards, than in the wild rabbit; and the tuberosity on the
inner lip of the anterior and upper part of the ilium is proportionally
more prominent.

_Sternum._--The posterior end of the posterior sternal bone in the wild
rabbit (fig. 15, A) is thin and slightly enlarged; in some of the large
lop-eared rabbits (B) it is much more enlarged towards the extremity;
whilst in other specimens (C) it keeps nearly of the same breadth from
end to end, but is much thicker at the extremity.

[Illustration: Fig. 16.--Acromion of Scapula, of natural size. A. Wild
Rabbit. B, C, D; Large, Lop-eared Rabbits.]

_Scapula._--The acromion sends out a rectangular bar, ending in an
oblique knob, which latter in the wild rabbit (fig. 16, A) varies a
little in shape and size, as does the apex of the acromion in
sharpness, and the part just below the rectangular bar in breadth. But
the variations in these respects in the wild rabbit are very slight;
whilst in the large lop-eared rabbits they are considerable. Thus in
some specimens (B) the oblique terminal knob is developed into a short
bar, forming an obtuse angle with the rectangular bar. In another
specimen (C) these two unequal bars form nearly a straight line. The
apex of the acromion varies much in breadth and sharpness, as may be
seen by comparing figs. B, C, and D.

_Limbs._--In these I could detect no variation; but the bones of the
feet were too troublesome to compare with much care.

I have now described all the differences in the skeletons which I have
observed. It is impossible not to be struck with the high degree of
variability or plasticity of many of the bones. We see how erroneous the
often-repeated statement is, that only the crests of the bones which give
attachment to muscles vary in shape, and that only parts of slight
importance {124} become modified under domestication. No one will say, for
instance, that the