579 



incline forwards. The spines of the anterior dorsal vertebrae are remarkable for their height ; 

 those of the posterior dorsal and of the lumbar vertebrae are remarkable for their antero- 

 posterior extent, the anterior angle being produced forwards and overlapping the spine in ad- 

 vance. A distinct metapophysis begins to be developed from the second dorsal, and attains its 

 greatest length on the twelfth. There are no anapophyses. The notches for the nerves in- 

 crease in depth as the vertebrae recede in position, and in the last dorsal the neural arch is 

 completely perforated by the spinal nerve, which is likewise the case in most of the lumbar 

 vertebrae. Eight pairs of ribs directly articulate with the sternum, which consists of seven 

 bones. 



In the present skeleton the tubercle disappears from the penultimate pair of ribs, and the 

 diapophysis is reduced to a short rough tuberosity ; but in the last pair of ribs the costal 

 tubercle with its articular surface reappears, and the diapophysis resumes its normal size and 

 articulation with the rib. In the first lumbar vertebra the diapophysis suddenly increases in 

 length and breadth, and is probably augmented by the ossified and coalesced rudiments of a 

 rib. In the scapula both the coracoid and acromion are rudimentary. The external tubero- 

 sity of the humerus is large, and produced above or beyond the head, bounding a deep tro- 

 chlear groove between it and the inner tuberosity. The humerus is perforated between the 

 condyles. The ulna is continued uninterruptedly from the olecranon to its carpal or styloid 

 extremity, where it has coalesced with the radius. The middle part of the interosseous 

 space is interrupted by syndesmosis of the ulna with the radius. The two middle metacarpals 

 are confluent, forming the cannon-bone, as in other Ruminants ; but the distal portions of the 

 two other metacarpals, answering to the second' and fifth of the pentadactyle foot, are more 

 developed than usual and support larger spurious hoofs or digits, with the ordinary number 

 of phalanges. The medullary artery of the femur enters the fore part of the shaft near its 

 proximal end, and inclines obliquely downwards. No trace of the metatarsals of the second 

 and fifth digits is preserved, but the toes which they would have supported are articulated to 

 the sesamoids behind the distal ends of the coalesced third and fourth metatarsals, by means 

 of a short flattened proximal phalanx. 



Mus. South. 



3491. The skull of a male Musk-deer (Moschus moschiferus), with the cranial part 

 mutilated. 



It is chiefly remarkable for the great length of the canines, which are compressed, curved, 

 with trenchant posterior margins, and project downwards considerably beyond the rami of the 

 lower jaw. 



Presented by Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., P.B. S. 



3492. The skull of a Musk-deer (Mosc/im moschiferus). 



The outer alveolar walls have been removed from the right side of both jaws to expose the 

 roots of the teeth. The long upper canine is implanted by a simple undivided and widely 

 open base, indicating its uninterrupted growth. 



Presented by Colonel Finch. 



3493. The anterior extremities of the upper and lower jaws, with the long upper 



4 E 2 



