946 THE OSTEOLOGY AND MYOLOGY OF THE DEATH ADDER, 



rounded bellies, which are continued on by long tendons to the 

 neural spines ; the most anterior bemg inserted on the spine of the 

 axis, while a few muscular fibres reaching from the axis to the skull, 

 show that there is a continuation on of the muscle. With this 

 arrangement in Diemenia we have a greater development of the 

 complexus than in other forms. The continuation of the muscle 

 on to the skull is no doubt accounted for by the function that it 

 performs, it being able to draw the head well back. This is of 

 especial value in venomous snakes, for it is by this means that the 

 fangs are disengaged from the prey. 



The continuation of the spinalis is met with to some degree in 

 man in the spinalis cervicis muscle ; and we may, perhaps, regard 

 the fasciculi going to the complexus as part of this continuation. 



Rectus capitis posticus major et minor, et obliquus capitis inferior. 



If we follow the multifidus forward we find that the bundles 

 springing from the anterior three vertebrae are conspicuous for 

 their size. The most anterior bundle springs by a tendon from 

 the spine of the axis and partly from the atlas, and running as a 

 well-defined rounded muscle is inserted on the exoccipital. This 

 we consider to represent the rectus minor. The next bundle 

 springing from the third vertebra is well defined, running to be 

 inserted on the exoccipital close to the minor. This we take to be 

 the representative of the rectus major. 



The obliquus is not defined as a separate muscle, but it is plain 

 that as the muscle bundles of the multifidus run forward and 

 outward, that a muscle will run from the anterior spines to the 

 lateral portion of the atlas, and so represent the obliquus inferior. 



M. COMPLEXUS. 



At about the tenth vertebra from the head, there are developed 

 between the spinalis and longissimus a number of muscular 

 bundles, which take the place of the meagrely developed semi- 

 spinalis. The bundles arise from all the anterior vertebrae except 

 the atlas, and coalesce to form a well-defined muscle which is 



