THE MUSCULATURE OF THE TRUNK. 275 



Anatomy, tells us that he found it at its minimum of de- 

 velopment in the Grallinae, the Goose, and the Cormorant. 

 In a specimen of Sulafusca, as well as in Phalacrocorax 

 carbo, it is present, but extremely small, I find. It is 

 entirely absent in Plotus anhinga, the longus colli 

 posterior (cervicalis ascendens, Meckel) entirely ceasing 

 at the lower margin of the axis vertebra, in the tendon 

 above described." 



The longus colli posticus in the Apteryx, as described 

 by Professor Owen, differs in the number of fasciculi 

 of its accessory series, and other minor details, while 

 in the main it practically agrees with the muscle as 

 I have here described it for the Raven. I regret to 

 say that Meckel's work is not at present at hand, 

 and consequently I am debarred from making com- 

 parisons that would greatly enhance the value of my 

 work. 1 



1 I here present Owen's description of this muscle in the Apteryx, 

 as it may be of interest to compare it. He says: "The longus colli 

 jjosticus is most internal or medial of the superficial muscles of the 

 dorsal aspect of the thoracic and cervical regions. At its posterior 

 part it seems to be a continuation of the longissimus dorsi ; its 

 medial and anterior part offers a strong analogy with the biventer 

 cervicis ; it is the homologue of the first, or medio-dorsal series of 

 the oblique fibres of the muscular system in fishes. It commences 

 by long and slender, but strong, subcompressed tendons from the 

 spines of the sixth, fifth, and fourth dorsal vertebrae : these tendons 

 gradually expand as they proceed forward and downward, and send 

 off from their under surface muscular fibres which continue in the 

 same course, and begin to be grouped into distinct fasciculi at the 

 base of the neck ; the first of these bundles joins a fasciculus of the 

 longissimus dorsi, which is inserted into the anapophysis of the 

 thirteenth cervical vertebra ; the succeeding fasciculi derive their 

 origins from a broad and strong aponeurotic sheet attached to 

 the spines of the fourth, third, and second dorsal vertebrae : the 

 second to the eighth fasciculi inclusive are compressed, broad, 

 and fleshy, and are inserted in the strong round tendons de- 



