1891] DR. C. J. FORSYTH MAJOR ON FOSSIL GIRAFFID^. 317 



The same remarks apply to the Giraffa attica (Gaud, et Lart.), 

 from Pikermi, the limb-bones of which, the only parts known, 

 approxhnate this form to the living species. Some molar teeth are 

 also doubtfully referred to it. Gaudry himself, who described the 

 remains, calls attention to the fact that, the cranium being unknown, 

 no definite determination is possible \ 



Concerning the Giraffa vetusta (Wagner), founded on an incom- 

 plete maxillary from Pikermi ~, and the Giraffa microdon (Koken) 

 from China, represented by a few molars ^, nothing more can be said 

 than that the teeth are very Giraffe-like and closely approach those 

 ascribed to the Giraffa attica. 



Lastly, the Giraffa parva (Weithofer) from Pikermi * has been 

 pronounced of late by its describer^ to belong to a different genus, 

 which we shall have to consider later. 



2. Samotherium ^ 



When the first remains of a large ruminant were brought to light 

 by my Greek workmen at Samos, I believed I had found the Hella- 

 dotherium, the large Giraffe-like ruminant discovered at Pikermi by 

 Gaudry. The subsequent discovery of several skulls, all of them 

 hornless, showed at once differences from Helladotherium. Two 

 fragments of the frontal, each bearing a horn implanted directly 

 above the roof of the orbit, were so different from what is known in 

 existing Giraffes, as well as in Antelopes and Bovines, that I was not 

 at the time able to classify them. The subsequent discovery, however, 

 of the posterior part of the skull belonging to one of the frontals at 

 once resolved the enigma in quite an unexpected manner, indicating 

 a member of the Giraffidse provided with horns, but in every other 

 respect so closely identical with the hornless skulls just mentioned 

 that both must evidently be considered as belonging to the same 

 species, the hornless skulls doubtless representing the female sex. 

 This is what I have called Samotherium boissieri'' . Later on was 

 found by me the nearly complete skull now in the British Museum, 

 shown of one-sixth the natural size in the accompanying figure 

 (p. 318). 



1 A. G-audry,' Animaux foss. et Geol. clel'Attique,' pp. 245-252. 



^ A. Wagner, " Nachtrage zur Kenntniss der fossilen Hufthier-Ueberreste von 

 Pikermi," Sitzungsb. der k. bayer. Akademie d. Wissensch. pp. 78-82, fig. 1 

 (Jahrg. 1861, Bd. ii., Miinchen). — K. A. Weithofer, " Beitrage z. Kenntniss der 

 Fauna von Pikermi bei Athen, " Beitrage zur Palaontologie Oesterreich-Un- 

 garns (Bd. vi.), Wien, 1888, p. 284, Taf. xvii. (viii.) figs. 1, 2. 



^ E. Koken, " Fossile Saugetbiere Ciiinas, " Palaont. Abh. herausgeg. von 

 Dames und Kayser, Bd. iii. Heft. 2, 1885, p. 61, Taf. iii. (viii.). figs. 13-15. 



* A. Weithofer." Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Fauna von Pikermi bei Athen,'' 

 {I. s. c.) pp. 281-285, Taf. xvi. (vii.) 



® A. Rodler imd K. A. Weithofer," Die Wiederkauer der Fauna von Maragha," 

 Abdruck aus dem Ivii. Bande d. Denkschr. der niathem.-naturwiss. Olasse der 

 kais. Akademie der Wissensch. Wien, 1890, pp. 6, 10. 



^ Forsyth Major, " Sur un gisement d'ossements fossiles dans File de Samoa, 

 contemporains de lage de Pikermi, " Comptesrendus de I'Academie des Sciences, 

 Paris, seance du 31 dec, 1888. 



^ Loc. cit. 



Proc. Zool. See— 1891, No. XXII. 22 



