286 THE MYOLOGY OF THE RAVEN. 



ravelled from one end to the other, and its various 

 origins and insertions neatly cleaned down to the very 

 bone. 



We then find the muscle composed of three distinct 

 portions, as in some of the Mammalia, viz. a vertical 

 portion, and a superior and an inferior oblique 

 portion. Besides these, there are certain accessory 

 fasciculi to be examined. 



The vertical portion of the longus colli is the major 

 division of the muscle. It arises, largely fleshy, from 



^^ \J / * 



the hypapophyses of the tenth to the fifteenth vertebra) 

 inclusive, and extends the entire length of the neck to 

 be inserted by a strong tendon into the inferior tubercle 

 of the atlas, alongside of the similar tendon comino- 

 from the fellow of the opposite side, with which in this 

 locality it is intimately blended, while attached to 

 the same tubercle to its outer side we find the tendon 

 of the superior oblique portion. Now from the under 

 side of this division of the longus colli we find a 

 system of tendons given off, which become longer and 

 longer as they reach up the column, and in turn be- 

 come attached to the apices of each and all of the 

 parapophyses of the cervical vertebrae to include the 

 tenth, and exclude the first three. It will be seen that 

 the hypapophyses of the dorsal vertebrae trifurcate, and 

 the part of the longus colli which arises from the 

 lateral processes thus formed, is more or less distinct, 

 especially posteriorly, but scarcely enough so as to 

 warrant its being described as a separate portion. 



Mesially, at the anterior division of the neck, the 

 longus colli anterior, in our subject, also throws off 

 tendons as it passes the fourth, third, and second 

 cervical vertebras, which respectively become attached 

 to the hypapophyses of these vertebrae. Beneath these 



