520 



RUMINANTIA. 



(fig. 344.). The atlas in the Camels is not 

 thus modified. In all other ruminants, in- 

 cluding the Giraffe, an opening exists in this 

 bone, which is placed at the fore part of 

 the superior ring. The odontoid process 

 of the axis or dentata is well marked and 

 prominent in the short-necked ruminantia, 

 but the Giraffe and Camels have it very small 

 and incorporated with the articular end of 



the body ; in them, also, very slight traces of 

 transverse " apophyses " are detectable. 



The dorsal vertebrae are distinguished for 

 the great length and development of their 

 spinous processes. The latter have an ex- 

 traordinary elevation in the Giraffe, for the 

 attachment of the powerful legamentum nu- 

 chce, which is broadest at this point (fig. 

 345.). The spinous " apophyses" are large in 



Fig. 345. 



Skeleton of the Giraffe. (From Pander and D'Alton.) 



theBovidce, and still more bulky in Camelidae. proportionate diminution of bony segments; 

 The transverse processes of the lumbar ver- 

 tebrae in the first-named family are extremely 

 prominent, and have a straight lateral di- 

 rection. In the swift-bounding Stags and 

 Antelopes they are shorter, and a little curved 

 forward. In Camelidse they are largely de- 

 veloped, slightly bent downward, and abrupt 

 at their extremities, the last pair being com- 

 paratively short and narrow. The sacrum 

 consists of three, four, or five pieces consoli- 

 dated together, to the anterior of which the 

 ossa ilea are articulated. The spinous pro- 

 cesses form a single continuous crest. The 

 caudal vertebrae vary in number, and, in the 

 foregoing table, eighteen are assigned to this 

 region in the Giraffe. Prof. Owen has counted 

 as many as twenty in the Nubian variety. 

 The Llamas, Stags, Goats, and certain of 

 the Antelopes have the tail short, with a 



this appendage is of considerable length in 

 the true Camels, the Gnus, the Oxen, and 

 some of the Sheep. 



The ribs vary chiefly in respect of their 

 size. The Giraffe has seven directly united 

 to the sternum, and an equal number un- 

 attached. Eight are true and five false in 

 the Stag, and the same division occurs in the 

 Ox. They are strong in the true Camels and 

 in the Giraffe, being particularly broad to- 

 ward the sternal ends. The same peculiarity 

 holds good with most of the bovine species. 

 In the Camel seven pairs are connected to the 

 sternum, the anterior ones being straight and 

 short ; five remain unsupported. The ribs 

 are very narrow in the Bison, and particularly 

 slender in the Antelopes and Deer. The 

 sternum is flattened in ruminants, its first bone 

 being rounded in front, and somewhat attenu- 



