621 

 Catoblepas. 



3808. The skeleton of the Gnu (Catoblepas Gnu). 



The vertebral formuk is : 7 cervical, 14 dorsal, 6 lumbar, 4 sacral, and 15 caudal. The 

 sternum consists of seven bones. The spine of the sixth cervical is unusually bent forwards ; 

 that of the third is vertical, indicating the centre of motion of the neck. The freedom and 

 extent of motion of this part required for the act of grazing, as well as of wielding the horns, 

 is facilitated by the ball-and-socket joints of the bodies of the cervical vertebrae. There are 

 no anapophyses : the other vertebral characters correspond with those of the Equine Ante- 

 lope, No. 3696. The medullary artery of the femur perforates the fore part of the upper 

 third of the shaft, the canal inclining backwards and downwards. The ulna is continued as 

 a distinct bone from the radius to the styloid process. The humerus is as long as the meta- 

 carpus, and the femur is as long as the metatarsus. 



Purchased. 



3809. The skull, with the dried skin of the head and horns, of the Gnu (Cato- 

 blepas Gnu}. Hunterian. 



3810. The skull of a Gnu (Catoblepas Gnu). 



This species is remarkable for the large base of the horns, which considerably overhang the 

 occipital region, and have pushed the small parietal quite to the back part of the skull. The 

 frontal suture is obliterated, except at its anterior part. There is no depression for the lacry- 

 mal pit on the facial plate of the lacrymal bone. 



Purchased. 



3311. The cranium and horns of a young female of the Brindled Gnu (Catoblepas 

 Gorgon}. 



The horns are comparatively small. The frontal suture is persistent and extends to the 

 points of the parietals, which bend forwards in advance of the occipital region. 



Purchased. 



3812. The cranium of a young female Brindled Gnu (Catoblepas Gorgon}. 



The alisphenoid sends forwards a strong and long process into the orbital cavity. 



Purchased 



Genus Ovibos. 



3813. The skull and horns of a male Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus)*. Hunterian. 



* For an excellent description of the skeleton of this Ruminant the reader is referred to Sir John 

 Richardson, M.D., ' Fossil Mammals of the Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald,' 4to, pp. 66 87. 



