TAGASSU. ODONTOCCELUS. 67 



Genl. Char. Size large, ears small; similar to T. pecari, but white 

 face markings more extensive. Cranial characters distinctive. As 

 compared with T. pecari the "parietal shield is narrower, elevated 

 and bulging upward over posterior part of braincase; nasals more 

 acute anteriorly; premaxillae slightly longer; zygomata and posterior 

 expansion of squamosals decidedly broader; palatal projection behind 

 molars abruptly narrowed at post molar notch and continuing back- 

 ward, with smooth parallel sides of equal breadth throughout; bullae 

 smaller and ending below in an elongated papilla pointing toward 

 hamular process; basioccipital narrower between bullae poster- 

 iorly." (Merr., 1. c.) 



Color. Above black, slightly grizzled with fulvous, most apparent 

 on sides of neck and shoulders; muzzle, chin and lips yellowish 

 white, extending on under jaw to beneath ears; under parts fulvous 

 black; legs and feet blackish mixed with whitish near hoofs. 



Measurements. Total length, 1180 (skin); hind foot, 229 (flesh), 

 (Merr.). Skull: basal length, 242; Hensel, 231; occipito-nasal length, 

 270; zygomatic breadth, 112; breadth across squamosals posteriorly, 

 1 06; palatal length, 184; breadth of basi-occipital between bullae, 

 posteriorly, 20; length of upper molar series, 78. 



The Pecora, or true Ruminants, is one of the best defined groups 

 of the Mammalia. Its members are sometimes designated as the 

 Solid-horned ruminants, in contradistinction to the Hollow-horned 

 species of the Bovine group. The antlers, which are usually seen 

 only on the male, are grown in a few months and then dropped, 

 generally about the time the young are born. Some of these de- 

 fensive structures are of great size, such as those carried by the 

 Moose and Wapiti, and it seems almost incredible that their growth 

 from a mere knob, that formed the base of the antlers of the previous 

 season, to the sometimes immense perfected antlers when the velvet 

 disappears, could have been accomplished in so brief a period. Nearly 

 all lands of any extent, except Australia, possess representatives of 

 this Family, and its members are probably familiar to more of the 

 human race than those of most groups of Mammals. All sizes, from 

 the lordly Moose to the diminutive Musk Deer, are found among 

 them, and the shapes and styles of the horns are many and diverse. 

 All climates are encountered by these animals, from the ice and snow- 

 covered barrens of the Arctic regions to the sun-baked soil of tropical 

 lands, but, wherever found, suitable modifications in structure and 

 covering have been produced to fit them to resist and overcome any 

 climatic influence hostile to their well being. 



