1905.] 



REMAINS OF TUE MUSK-OX. 



53 



chai'acteristic qiiadrate form : both the antei'ior and posterior 

 muscular prominences are ahnost completely worn away, and just 

 the base of the fused pterj^goid plate remains as a rounded ridge. 

 The tympanic is wanting, a circumstance which, together with the 

 abrasion of the paroccipital and other prominences, gives the skull 

 a very peculiar appearance, difiering much from the recent type : 

 but comparison of the foramina and other features not affected 

 shows that in fact scai'cely any difFei-ence exists. 



The occipital surface is quadrate owing to the removal of the 

 ventro-lateral region. The base of the horu- cores and the roof of 

 the skull between them are much less raised above the lambdoidal 

 crest than in the recent skull, and the same is the case with the 

 specimen fi^om Maidenhead. On the other hand, the skull from 

 Crayford described by Professor Boyd Dawkins is more like the 

 recent form, so that perhaps this peculiarity is merely due to 

 difference of age or to individual variation. The cranial portion 

 of the horn-core is more concave from side to side and longer from 

 before backwards than in the specimen from Maidenhead. 



The dimensions of the skull here referred to are given (in centi- 

 metres) in column A ; those of the Crayford specimen (where 

 possible) in B, of the Maidenhead skull in 0, and of that of a 

 recent adult bull in D. 



Greatest width of occipital surface 



Height from foraiiieu magnum to top of 

 lambdoidal crest 



Height from foi-amea magnum to roof of 

 skull 



Least width of skull behind orbits 



Length of base of horn-cores 



Distance between bases of horn-cores 



Width of foramen magnum 



Height of foramen magnum 



A. 



E. 



13-2 



8-2 



10-2 

 15'5 



18-8 

 1-0 

 3-0 



2-7 



147 



22-8 

 1-0 

 3-8 



Although careful examination of the specimens above refeired 

 to supplies no reason for supposing that the Musk-Ox of Pleis- 

 tocene Britain differed specifically from the existing animal, it 

 may be suggested that it was somewhat more heavily built, and 

 perhaps, on the average, rather larger. These differences are 

 probably the natural I'esult of living in a less rigorous climate and 

 with more abundant food than the recent form, conditions that 

 may be fairly inferred from the fact that the fossil remains are 

 from deposits which contain an abundant mammalian fauna, 

 including such large herbivores as Bos j'Jrtv;tir/6?t«6s and Bison 

 priscu-s. 



