182 Dr. J. Murie on the Horns, Viscera, 



part of the periosteum on each side of the cranial suture was 

 torn off along with it, and the bone beneath partially ex- 

 posed. I did not notice any special vascular structures at the 

 points of union. From the skull, however, there projected 

 a triradiate rough exostosis, which was adapted to corre- 

 sponding hollows in the interior of the osseous cap or horn 

 [vide C and B, fig. 4). I have found the respective sizes of 

 the third horn in aged animals of the two sexes to be, in 

 inches and decimals : — 



S ? 



Extreme length 5 2-2. 



,, breadth 3 1'3. 



Greatest height 3 ■f 0*6. 



2. The Ligamentum nuchce. 



For several reasons this most remarkable body of contractile 

 tissue in the giraffe has been looked upon with an eye of 

 wonder as well as curiosity. Its immense length, volume, 

 and resiliency give it a conspicuous character, added to which 

 it is unique in the ultimate fibre being striated. 



In 1846 my late valued friend Prof. Quekett announced the 

 discovery* of the above-mentioned microscopical structure, 

 carefully noting (as was his wont) that whilst the outer por- 

 tion of the ligament possessed the peculiarity in question, yet 

 fibres from the centre were deficient in transverse markings, 

 and, on the contrary, exhibited an occasional linear stripe, as 

 if tubular. It has since been asserted by other observers 

 (Dr. Cobbold f, I believe, for one) that the ligamentum nuchse 

 of Cmnelopardalis is deficient in the attribute of transverse 

 strias. For my own part, I can say that, examined in the 

 fresh condition, the ligament does contain the varieties of 

 tissue demonstrated by Quekett. But I may also mention 

 another curious circumstance — to wit, that having had an op- 

 portunity of testing the matter at issue by re-examination of 

 a portion of Quekett's original ligament J, I was surprised to 

 find no indication of striated fibres whatsoever. Might one 

 infer therefrom that long preservation in spirit destroys the 

 said character of this yellow elastic tissue ? and does the un- 



* Trans. Microsc. Soc. of Lond. vol. iii. p. 45, pi, x. figs. 3, 4, striate, and 

 figs. 5, G, non-striate condition. 



t Paper quoted, in the ' Annals ' for 1854, p. 488. 



X On tlie demise of the worthy Professor, a great many of his speci- 

 mens from which sections had been cut passed into the hands of Mr. 

 Norman, the microscopist, to whom I am indebted for the chance of 

 investigating the point, besides his testimony as to correctness. 



