No. 2.] THE RELATIONS OF PROTOCERAS. 357 



higher ; but, on the other hand, the metacarpus and anterior 

 phalanges are very much shorter and the humerus is of similar 

 length in the two genera. In the hind limb similar facts are 

 observable ; the pelvis, femur, tibia, and tarsus are all decidedly 

 longer than in the musk-deer, while the metatarsals are much 

 shorter. The phalanges of the pes are of nearly the same 

 length in both genera. As a whole, the limbs are longer in 

 Protoceras, the shortness of the feet not compensating for the 

 greater length of the other segments of the limbs. 



The skeleton of Leptomeryx follows that of the tragulines 

 more closely than it does that of Protoceras, both in regard to 

 the actual size of the body and in the relative length of the 

 limbs and consequent curvature of the back. The inequality 

 of the limbs and curvature of the spinal column are, however, 

 decidedly less than in Tragiihis. Aside from the great differ- 

 ence of stature and the still greater divergence in the appear- 

 ance and character of the skull, there is an undeniable resem- 

 blance between the skeletons of Leptomeryx and Protoceras, 

 though that between the latter and MoscJms is still closer. 



VIII. TJie Systematic Position of Protoceras. 



The osteology of this genus is now almost as completely 

 known as that of any living mammal, and yet the determina- 

 tion of its affinities is a very obscure and difficult problem, and 

 it is therefore hardly a matter of surprise that there should be 

 much difference of opinion with regard to it. Marsh cautiously 

 infers from an examination of the skull alone that it was con- 

 nected with the giraffe. "The characters now known suggest 

 affinities with the giraffes, but indicate a distinct family." 

 (No. 5, p. 82.) Zittel makes the genus the type of a subdi- 

 vision of his family "Cervicornia," and says of it : "Die Gattung 

 Protoceras bildet ein hochst merkwurdiges Bindeglied zwischen 

 Tragulina und Cervicornia. Gebiss und Extremitaten stimmen 

 mehr mit den ersteren iiberein, wahrend sich der Schadel am 

 besten mit den Giraffen und Sivatheriden vergleichen lasst." 

 (No. II, p. 407.) Osborn and Wortman express no very de- 

 cided opinion as to the relationships of Protoceras, leaving the 



