UNGULATA. 437 



manently covered by a hairy skin, terminated by a tuft of long 

 stiff bristles. The neck is of extraordinary length, but, never- 

 theless, consists of no more than the normal seven cervical 

 vertebrae. The fore-legs appear to be much longer than the 

 hind-legs, and all are terminated by two toes each, the supple- 

 mentary toes being altogether wanting. 



Fossil species of Giraffe have been discovered in the Ter- 

 tiary deposits of the Siwalik Hills in India and in the Upper 

 Miocene of Attica; and a species has also been described 

 from France. This last, however, would seem to be referable 

 to the genus Helladotherium, founded for the reception of some 

 singular fossils from the Upper Miocene Tertiary of Attica. 

 In this remarkable genus there appear to have been no horns, 

 and 'the teeth present certain resemblances to those of the 

 Antelopes. 



e. Cavicornia. The last family of the Ruminants is that of 

 the Cavicornia or Bovida, comprising the Oxen, Sheep, Goats, 

 and Antelopes. This family includes the most typical Rumi- 

 nants, and those of most importance to man. The upper jaw 

 in all the Cavicornia is wholly destitute of incisors and canines, 

 the place of which is taken by the hardened gum, against which 

 the lower incisors bite. There are six incisors and two canines 

 in the lower jaw, placed in a continuous series, and the molars 

 are separated by a wide gap from the canines. There are six 

 molars on each side of each jaw. Both sexes have horns, or 

 the males only may be horned, but in either case these ap- 

 pendages are very different from the " antlers " of the Cervidce. 

 The horns, namely, are persistent, instead of being deciduous, 

 and each consists of a bony process of the frontal bone or 

 "horn-core" covered by a sheath of horn. The feet are 

 cleft, but are furnished with accessory hoofs placed on the 

 back of the foot. 



The Cavicornia comprise the three families of the Antilopidcz, 

 Ovida, and Bovidcz. The Antelopes form an extremely large 

 section, with very many species. They are characterised by 

 their slender deer-like form, their long and slender legs, and 

 their simple, cylindrical, annulated, or twisted horns, which are 

 usually confined to the males, but sometimes occur in the 

 females as well. 



The above definition will not apply in all points to some 

 singular extinct forms usually referred to the Antilopida, nor 

 to one aberrant existing form viz., the Prong-buck (Antilope 

 furcifer, or Antilocapra Americana). This extraordinary and 

 unique species differs from the typical Antelopes in having no 

 accessory hoofs, in having horns which have a snag in front, 



