the anatomy of the elk. 377 



Myology. 



For reasons afterwards mentioned, in treating of the muscular 

 system, a comparison with that of other B-uminants has not been 

 entered into in detail, but a simple description of the muscles of 

 the body and limbs has been given. "We have, for the sake of conve- 

 nience, adopted the nomenclature of Chauveau*, but we do not 

 consider ourselves bound by it in respect of general homological 

 significance. 



Muscles of the Fore Limh : Dorso-scapular Megion. 



Levator humeri (Mastoido-humeralis). — This muscle is attached poste- 

 riorly to the middle half of the anterior border of the shaft of the humerus. 

 It is a sti'ong muscular band which passes forwards and upwards along the 

 side of the neck to be attached by means of a strong aponeurosis to the 

 skull behind the ear. The lowest fibres of the muscle, moreover, pass 

 over the angle of the jaw and parotid gland, and are prolonged forward as 

 a cutaneous muscle of the cheek. 



Great Dorsal Muscle (Dorso-humeralis). — The fibres of this muscle 

 take origin from the spinous processes of all the dorsal vertebrae posterior 

 to the highest point of the shoulder-blade, from a strong aponeurosis co- 

 vering the external oblique muscle of the abdomen, and by a single digi- 

 tation from the outer surface of the fourth last rib. The fibres pass ob- 

 liquely downwards and forwards to be inserted as follows: — The ante- 

 rior fibres terminate by blending with those of the posterior part of the 

 teres major, whilst the posterior and lower fibres end on a cord-like tendon 

 which passes in front of the teres major, and runs up to be inserted 

 into the lesser tuberosity of the humerus, receiving the fibres of the lower 

 half of the deep pectoral muscle, and giving off a tendinous slip which 

 joins the brachial aponeurosis upon the inner side of the arm. 



Trapezius. — This muscle arises by two distinct rounded tendons from 

 the transverse process of the atlas, from the ligamentum nuchae, and 

 from the spines of all the dorsal vertebrae, with the exception of the last 

 four, blending posteriorly with the origin of the great dorsal muscle. The 

 fibres constituting the anterior and posterior thirds of the muscle are 

 inserted into a strong aponeurosis covering the spinati muscles, and 

 continuous with that covering the outer side of the arm. The central 

 fibres of the muscle are inserted directly into the middle third of the spine 

 of the scapula. 



Rhomboideus arises from the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh 

 dorsal spines, and from the ligamentum nuchae between these ; the fibres 

 pass backwards and outwards, and are inserted into the whole length of the 

 superior margin of the scapula. 



* ' Traite d'Anatomie comparee des Animaux Domestiques.' The Second 

 Edition, revised by S. Arloing and translated into English by George Fleming. 



27* 



