THE SPINAL COLUMN OF QUADRUPEDS. 131 



tlie vertebrae are all moderately developed. In 

 the lower mammalia, on the contrary, Avhich 

 may be called quadrupeds, the head acts as a 

 dead weight at the extremity of the vertebral 

 column, and requires to be supported "by 

 voluminous muscles, necessitating the enlarge- 

 ment and elongation of the spinous processes 

 of the dorsal vertebrae; besides which, aa 

 elastic ligament, (called the cervical ligament,) 

 running from the spinous processes to the back 

 of the skull, contributes additional support, as 

 it acts like a spiral spring. Quadrupeds in 

 which the great power is concentrated in the 

 head, neck, and shoulders — as the bear, or 

 which carry heavy horns — as the African 

 buffalo, or have a ponderous head, armed with 

 enormous tusks — as the elephant, have these 

 spinous processes greatly developed, and the 

 neck is short. Still, however, it consists of 

 seven vertebrae ; and in the long neck of the 

 giraffe of no more. If we turn to the spinal 

 column of the elephant, we find the neck 

 abbreviated, and the spinous processes of the 

 dorsal and lumbar vertebras elongated, and all 

 inclined obliquely backwards. The vertebrje 

 of the neck, though contracted in length, are 

 voluminous and strong, and in every respect 



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