Zoological Society, 219 



strong, subcompressed tendons from the spines of the sixth, fifth and 

 fourth dorsal vertebrae : these tendons gradually expand as they pro- 

 ceed forwards and downwards, 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 the fasciculus of the longissimus dorsi, which is 

 inserted into the posterior articular process 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 described in the preceding muscle, and attached 

 to the oblique processes of the twelfth to the sixth cervical ver- 

 tebrae inclusive : the ninth fasciculus, which forms the main anterior 

 continuation of the longus colli posticus*, is larger than the rest, and 

 receives, as it advances, accessory fibres from the spinous processes 

 of the seventh to the third cervical vertebrae inclusive, and is inserted, 

 partly fleshy, partly by a strong tendon, into the side of the broad 

 spine of the vertebra dentata. A slender fasciculus is detached from 

 the mesial and dorsal margin of the longus colli posticus, near the 

 base of the neck, which soon terminates in a long round tendon : 

 this tendon is braced down by short aponeurotic fibres to the spines 

 of the fifth to the second cervical vertebrae inclusive, immediately be- 

 yond which it again becomes fleshy, and expands to be inserted into 

 the occipital ridge : this portion is the digastrique or biventer capitis 

 of Cuvier. 



Spinalis dorsi. — The displacement of the dorsal portion of the pre- 

 ceding muscle and the longissimus dorsi brings into view the spi- 

 nalis dorsi, which is a well- developed and distinct muscle in the 

 Apteryx. Origin. By two long, narrow, flattened tendons, from the 

 spines of the eighth and seventh dorsal vertebrae : these pass obliquely 

 downwards and forwards, expanding as they proceed, and terminate 

 in two fasciculi of muscular fibres : the posterior one passes forwards 

 beneath the anterior one, and inclining inwards and upwards divides 

 into two portions, inserted by long tendons into the spines of the 

 second and first dorsal vertebrae ; it then sends a few fibres forwards 

 to join the outer and anterior fasciculus, which is partly inserted by 

 a slender tendon into the spine of the last cervical vertebra : the rest 

 of the fibres of the second fasciculus join the portion of the longis- 

 simus dorsi which is implanted into the oblique process of the last 

 cervical vertebra. The three inserted tendons of the spinalis dorsi 

 are also the medium of attachment of fibres continued from the 

 multifidus spina, beneath them. 



Multifidus spina. — The series of muscles so called arises by fleshy 

 fibres from the transverse processes of the five last dorsal vertebrae, 

 which pass upwards, forwards and inwards, to be inserted by four flat 

 tendons into the spines of the seventh to the third dorsal vertebrae 

 inclusive, and by the tendons of the spinalis dorsi into the two an- 

 terior dorsal spines. 



Obliquo-spinales. — The removal of this muscle brings into view 

 * ' Accessoires du long poslerieur da cou,' Cuvier, loc. cit. p. 28 J. 



