234 MR. R. OWEN ON THE ANATOMY 
The rhomboideus is single, and is chiefly remarkable for its shortness ; like the 
serratus major, it is inserted into the broad elastic cartilage, which is continued up- 
wards from the base of the scapula. With reference to these scapular cartilages I may 
observe, that as the fore part of the trunk is, as it were, slung upon the two great ser- 
rati muscles which principally support the weight of the remarkably deep chest of the 
Giraffe, the interposition of the elastic cartilages between the upper attachments of the 
muscles and the capitals of the bony columns of the two fore-legs, must be attended 
with the same advantage as is obtained by slinging the body of a coach upon elastic 
springs. 
The pectoralis major arises from the whole length of the sternum, and is composed 
of two portions, one superficial, the other deep-seated ; the former is inserted into the 
fascia covering the extensor muscles of the fore-leg ; the latter into the fascia covering 
the flexors. 
The other muscles and tendons acting upon the distal joints of the extremities did 
not materially differ, otherwise than in their greater length from the corresponding 
parts in other bisulcate Mammals. 
The development of elastic ligament is truly extraordinary in the Giraffe, as exem- 
plified in the pax-wax or ligamentum nuche. This mechanical stay and support of the 
long neck and of the head commences from the sacral vertebre, and receives fresh 
accessions from each lumbar and dorsal vertebra as it advances forwards ; the spines 
of the anterior dorsal vertebre becom greatly elongated to afford additional surface 
for the attachment of new portions of the ligament, which appears to be inserted, on a 
superficial dissection, in one continuous sheet into the longitudinally extended but not 
elevated spinous processes of the cervical vertebre, as far as the avis: the atlas, as 
usual, is left free for the rotatory movements of the head; the termination of the liga- 
ment passes over that vertebra to terminate by an expanded insertion into the occi- 
pital crest. It consists throughout of two bilateral moieties. 
Osseous System. 
The osteology of the Giraffe has been illustrated and briefly noticed in the fasciculus 
relating to the Osteology of the Ruminants (Die Skelete der Wiederkaiter, fol. 1823) in 
the beautiful work of Pander and D’Alton. Some observations on the cranium of the 
Nubian Giraffe, with figures of the skull of the male and female, are contained in the 
“ Atlas zu der Reise in Noérdlichen Afrika, von Riippell, pl. 9. The skeleton of the 
Giraffe has been described with more detail in the second edition of Cuvier’s ‘‘ Lecons 
d’Anatomie Comparée,” and especially as regards the cranium, which is considered with 
reference to its general form (p.234.), its external depressions (p. 278.), its internal de- 
pressions (p. 303.), the connexions of the component bones (pp. 365 and 439.), and the 
foramina and fissures (p. 494.). 
After a comparison of these excellent descriptions with the skulls of the adult male 
