Dr. Knecland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 25 



and nearly an inch thick ; the height and width at the symphysis 

 is 2 inches, the thickness \^ inch ; the chin is convex and re- 

 treating, its convexity measuring 3| inches. The skull measures 

 from the posterior plane of the occiput to margin of incisors 

 13i inches ; the diameter of face across zygomata is 6| inches ; 

 from the posterior plane of occiput to fronto- nasal suture 7^ 

 inches ; from this suture to margin of incisors 6^ inches ; breadth 

 of zygomatic fossa 2 inches ; length of bony })alate 3|^ inches ; 

 inter-orbitar space 1^ inch ; lateral diameter of orbit If, vertical 

 If inch. 



Trunk. — Of the vertebrae, only the atlas is wanting. The 

 odontoid process of the axis, instead of being almost perpendi- 

 cular, as in Man, inclines backwards at an angle of nearly 50° : 

 the spinous process is an inch long, spreading out at its apex to 

 nearly the same width, with an evident disposition to fork as in 

 the human type ; it is also somewhat concave at the end of its 

 under surface. The bodies of all the cervical vertebrse are higher, 

 but narrower than in Man, and received deeply one in the other. 

 The spinous processes are horizontal, long, and (excepting the 

 third, which is sharp-pointed) are swelled or club-shaped at the 

 end ; the fourth is the longest, the third the shortest ; their 

 lengths are, from the posterior face of the spinal canal, as fol- 

 lows : — the third, 2^ inches; the fourth, 3f inches ; the fifth, 

 3f inches ; the sixth, 3^ inches ; the seventh, 3 J inches : the use 

 of these long processes is sufficiently obvious, being required for 

 the ligamentum nuchse necessary for the support of the ill- 

 balanced head. The transverse processes are very long, the pos- 

 terior an inch in length ; the anterior or cervical ribs begin to 

 be seen at the fourth, increasing to the sixth and seventh, which 

 last are of equal size — there being, as a general rule, no cervical 

 ribs to the seventh vertebra of the mammal neck. All are pierced 

 for the vertebral artery on each side; the transverse processes are 

 directed obliquely downwards. 

 ' i' The dorsal vertebrse are fourteen in number, as in the Chim- 

 panzee (according to Cuvier ; Vrolik gives this last only thirteen). 

 They much resemble the human in shape and size ; the last two 

 are rather larger, and more like human lumbar vertebrse ; the 

 spinous and transverse processes are much more developed. The 

 spinous process of the first is like the cervical, and 2 J inches 

 long; the spinal canal is less in this and the remainder of the 

 column ; the spinous processes of the second and third are com- 

 pressed laterally at the end, and 2|^ inches long. At the fourth 

 the spinous processes begin to descend, as in Man, to the ninth ; 

 below this they resemble the lumbar spines, though pointing 

 more downwards. The last dorsal has its rib on the right side 

 firmly anchyloscd to the body. 



