1843.] 243 



anterior end, exactly as in the recent species, and they are deve- 

 loped to nearly the same amount of projection. There is, however, 

 this considerable difference, that whereas in the recent species they 

 do not run half-way down the body of the vertebra, in the fossil they 

 are decurrent along the whole of its length in well-marked laminar 

 ridges, which are confluent with the nearly obsolete ridges of the 

 upper transverse processes, the united mass near the posterior end 

 being dilated into two thick alseform expansions (e, e). 



In the fossil, as in the recent bone, the superior transverse pro- 

 cesses are seen only in a rudimentary state ; in the former, hoM^ever, 

 they run forwards across the body with less obliquity, and conse- 

 quently make the canals for the vertebrary arteries twice as long as 

 they are in the recent bone. In the fossil the orifices («, a') of these 

 canals divide the length of the vertebra into three nearly equal por- 

 tions ; whereas in the recent bone the orifices are both included 

 within its anterior half. 



The anterior oblique processes (/,/) have the same general form 

 and direction both in the fossil and recent species ; but in the former 

 they are considerably stouter and larger, and their interspace is less. 

 The articular surfaces are convex, and are defined exactly as in the 

 recent species. 



The posterior oblique processes {g, g) of the fossil differ in form 

 very little from those of the recent bone ; in the fossil, however, the 

 articular surfaces are considerably larger ; and the ridges in which 

 they are continued along the side of the upper vertebrary arch, are 

 much less convergent than in the recent bone ; so that in the latter 

 this part is somewhat heart-shaped ; whereas in the fossil it is nearly 

 oblong, and " looks squarer," so to speak. 



The spinous process {h) in the fossil is the same thin triangular 

 lamina that is seen in the recent species ; and it differs only in 

 having its most prominent point lower down on the arch. 



The spinal canal is very much of the same form and dimensions 

 in both the fossil and the recent vertebra. At this point some of 

 the matrix remains attached to the fossil bone, and prevents any very 

 precise measurement. 



As a minor point of agreement between the fossil and recent 

 bones, it may be noted that, in both, the foramen {k) for the 

 small nutritious artery on the inferior side of the body of the ver- 

 tebra is on the right. In the other cervical vertebrae of the recent 

 skeleton, this solitary foramen is on the left. 



From the above comparisons it appears that the fossil vertebra, 

 while it is very distinct from that of a camel, fulfils all the conditions 

 required for a strict identification with that of a giraffe; that its 

 peculiarities are not of greater than specific importance ; and con- 

 sequently do not warrant its being referred to a distinct and un- 

 known type among the ruminants. 



The following are the dimensions, in detail, of the third vertebra 

 in the adult Sewalik fossil and in the immature Nubian Giraffe, 

 104- feet high, in the museum of the Zoological Society : — 



