1901.] 



MVE-HORNED GtlRAFI'E FBOM MOUNT ELGOIST, 



479 



South Africa, belonging to O. c. capensis, the least horned of all, 

 we shall find, if we look at it from the occipital aspect, that 

 even in this there is a swelling which cannot be considered 

 as any part of a muscular ridge or accessory projection (this 

 aspect in the five-horned Griraffe is shown in text-fig. 45) \ and to 

 which no homologue can be found in the Ungulates other than the 



Text-fiff. 45. 



Occipital view of skull of old male Five-horned Giraife. 

 Johnston Collection. 



Giraffidse. In the Cervidse and Bovidae, however largely the bony 

 ridges may be developed, there is just as much bony surface as 

 may be required for the attachment of the nuchal tendons and 

 muscles, but no more ^, the rounded projection above the mviscular 

 fossa in Giraffidse being therefore of a different nature to these 

 bony ridges and, as I believe, representing the mizen horns. In 

 the Okapi again, while nothing of the sort can be made out in the 

 larger of the two known skulls (of the sex of which we have as yet 



^ The surface of old male Giraife skulls is always largely covered with an 

 accessory osseous outgrowth, having a stalagmitic appearance, which cements 

 the horns to the skull, covers the face with roughening, makes accessory lumps 

 on the top of the nose and above the orbits, closes up the anteorbital vacuities, 

 and everywhere greatly increases the weight and strength of the skull. But I 

 am satisfied by the appearances in youth that the mizen horns are essentially 

 different from these bony secretions. 



^ Literally speaking Bibos forms an exception to this statement, but the 

 projection above its occipital fossa is obviously of an entirely different nature. 



32* 



