1897.] Oy THE EXTSTING FORMS OF GIRAFFE.' 273 



made by G-arretfc from a specimen 3 ft. long, obtained in the South 

 Pacific, 300 miles north o£ the Hervey Islands. The differences 

 observable on comparing this figure with that of Solander are 

 probably due to the imperfection of the drawing. D. 2.5 + 10 + 

 VIII; A. 11 + VIII. 



The synonymy ot Acanthocybium solandri would therefore be as 

 follows : — 



1831. Cyhium solandri, Ouv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. viii. p. 192. 



1839. Gybium sara, Benn. in Beechey, Voy. ' Blossom,' Zool. p. 63, 

 pi. XX. fig. 2. 



1860. Cyhium petv^, Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. p. 234, pi. xvi. fig. 1. 



1868. Acanthocybium petus, Poey, Eepert. fis. Cuba, ii. p. 363. 



1872. Gybium verany, Doderl. Griorn. Sc. Palermo, viii. p. 125, 

 pi. iv. fig. 2. 



1876. Gybium solandri, Griinth. Fische d. Siidsee, p. 153, pi. xciv. 



1879. Acanthocybium peto, Poey, Proc. U.S. Xat. Mus. i. p. 5. 



1880. Acanthocybium solandri, Liitk. Spol. Atlant. i. pp. 71 & 189. 



1884. Acanthocybium solandri, Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

 vii. p. 119. 



1885. Gybium sara, Vaill. Bull. Soc. Philom. (7) ix. p. 21. 



I append a short description of the specimen, preserved as a 

 skin 3|- ft. long, obtained at Muscat by Mr. Jayakar. 



D. 25 + 13 + IX ; A. 11 + IX ; P. 25 ; V. 6. 



Depth of body 7 times in total length, length of head 4|- times. 

 Eye 8 times in length of head, 4 times in length of snout, twice in 

 interorbital width ; praemaxillary extending to below anterior 

 border of eye, with about 50 teeth on each side, its beak-like 

 anterior portion equalling its distance from the e3'^e ; chin pointed, 

 slightly projecting. First dorsal a little longer than second, 

 originating above base of pectoral ; spines subequal, | length of 

 head, a little longer than longest rays of second dorsal, from which 

 it is separated by a space equal to 1 length of head ; second dorsal 

 a little in advance of anal. Pectoral not quite half length of head ; 

 ventral f length of pectoral. Lateral line descending in a curve 

 below the second third of the anterior dorsal, terminating on the 

 tail in a strong keel which is as long as the postorbital part of 

 the head. Uniform dark olive above, pale golden on the sides and 

 below. 



3. Remarks on the Existing Forms of Giraffe. 

 By W. E. DE WiNTON, F.Z.S. 



[Keceived January 30, 1897.] 



There seems to be some doubt among naturalists in regard to 

 the specific relations of the Griraffes of Nubia and the adjacent 

 countries to those of Africa south of the Equator; the almost 

 total absence of wild-killed specimens of the northern form during 

 the last half-century until within the last year or two is no doubt 



Peoc. Zool. Soc— 1897, No. XVIII. 18 



