2G8 THE MYOLOGY OF THE RAVEN. 



minor ratlicr pulls it downwards, while tlic com- 

 plexus, no doubt, is an auxiliary to the more powerful 

 extensors found at the back of the neck. 



The single carotid artery becomes nearly superficial 

 in the median line, near the posterior apex of the pre- 

 sent muscle, formed by the union of the two inferior 

 flexors of the head, just described, being covered only 

 by the nearly transparent common envelope of fascia. 



It bifurcates soon after its emergence from the point 

 in cpiestion, and each lateral branch is harboured in 

 the sulcus formed l)y the present muscle and the rectus 

 capitis cmticus nu7ioi% until the vessel arrives at that 

 foramen which affords it, on either side, ingress to 

 the cranial cavity, 



126. Tlie rectus capitis p)osticus rtiajor^ is, on either 



^ The only muscle I can find in literature wherewith to compare 

 the present one is the rect. cap. posticus of Gadow, who presents us 

 with the subjoined synonymy for it, and in Bronn's Klassen des Thier- 

 Keiclis [loc. cit., p. 112) gives a description for it : — 



" 8. M. RECTUS CAPITIS POSTICUS. 



Kleiner Kopfheber. Merrem. 



Le 2)etit viuscle droit posterieur ; petit complexu^. Cuviei'. 

 Rectus ccqjitis posticus major et minor. Tiodemann, § 205-^206. 



,, „ „ „ „ „ d' Alton, p. 8. 



Ohne Namen. Meckel, ISystem, p. 298. 

 Recti capitis jMstici. Selenka, p. 99, No. 16. 

 Grand et petit droit posterieur. Gervais et AHx, p. 14. 

 Rectus capitis p)osticus minor. Watson, p. 63. 

 Splenius cajntis. Watson, p. 63." 



Note. — The muscle is by no means a small one in the Raven, 

 that is if I am correst in comparing my rect. cap. p)Ost. major with 

 the above one of Gadow and other authors. A comparison of the 

 synonyms of the recti muscles throughout the class Aves is 

 sufficient to convince anyone of the fact that they still stand in 

 need of careful diagnosis ; and further comparative reseaich in 

 representatives of divers groups of birds is a thing much to be 

 desired, in so far as their myology goes. 



