Dr. T. S. Cobbold on the Anatomy of the Giraffe. 487 



Other lesions than those already enumerated were detected. 

 The paralysis finds its explanation in ramollissement of the spinal 

 cord, softening of that portion of it corresponding to the last 

 cervical and first dorsal vertebrse ha\ang taken place ; elsewhere it 

 was firm in texture and closely enveloped by the dura mater. 

 The brain was healthy, but a desire to preserve the cranium 

 entire prevented our examining it very minutely. Its removal 

 piecemeal has enabled me, however, to retain a tolerably accurate 

 cast of its size and form, and illustrates the small bulk of the 

 cerebellum as compared with the cerebrum. The following are 

 its dimensions : — extreme length 6 inches ; breadth 4: inches ; 

 longitudinal diameter of the hemispheres 4| inches. The cranial 

 cavity when emptied of its contents was found capable of holding 

 21 ounces of water. The cerebrum and cerebellum weighed 

 19 ounces. 



DiflFerences in the development of the cranium are said to be 

 found in giraffes inhabiting respectively the more northern or 

 southern regions of Africa. These distinctive peculiarities have 

 more especial relation to the position and approximation of the 

 horns. In the variety under consideration, which was imported 

 from the coast of Abyssinia (whence they are usually obtained), 

 I have noted the following particulars in reference to the bones 

 of the head : — 



Length of cranium; incisive symphysis to horn tips 20 inches. 



Do. do. incisive angle to occipital crest ... 19 



Incisive angle to tip of central eminence 11^ 



Extreme cranial breadth 8J 



Length of horns 5J 



Distance between horn tips 4 



Depth of orbit 3 



Greatest diameter of orbital ring 2? 



Breadth of occipital condyles 3J 



Depth of each condyle 2\ 



Distance between articular surfaces of condyles, only ... 4 lines. 



Length of hard palate 10^ inches. 



Extreme width of ditto 3 „ 



Length of lower jaw 15^ „ 



Depth of rami of ditto 6 „ 



Breadth between condyles of ditto 2\ „ 



Do. between rami 4i „ 



Do. opposite fourth molares 14 „ 



Several of the grinding teeth are much decayed, and illustrate 

 further the impoverished state of the nutritive functions. The 

 dental formula stands thus : — 



Incisors -; — -. : molars ^^ : =32. 



The four posterior grinders had not penetrated the gum. The 

 two outer incisors have divided crowns. 



