DE. E. EAY LANKESTEE ON OKAPIA. 301 



The chief point of doubt in the result obtained by Mr. Rowland Ward is as to the 

 carriage of the head and neck. He has, in agreement with me, made the neck 

 continue the line of the back as it does in the Giraffe and some of the Antelopes. 

 It has been suggested that the neck should rise nearly vertically from the shoulders 

 and form more of an arch, as it does in some Ungulates; but we have no information 

 as yet to guide us in the matter. It is quite certain that all the old drawings and 

 mountings of the Giraffe, which represented that animal's neck as rising vertically 

 with a graceful curve from the shoulders, are erroneous. The Giraffe's neck is 

 habitually carried in a line which is a continuation of the rising line of the back 

 from haunches to withers. The neck inclines forward, with the head projecting far 

 in front of the fore legs, whether the Giraffe is at rest or in movement. It is only 

 when the Giraffe is reaching with the mouth at some object higher than the head that 

 the neck assumes a vertical position. 



The following are the measurements of the skin of the Okapi as mounted : — 



From occiput to root of tail 1860 mm. 



From occiput to muzzle 520 mm. 



From occiput to withers (length of neck) . . . 870 mm. 



From withers to root of tail 990 mm. 



Height at withers 1530 mm. 



Height at rump (through head of femur) . . . 1370 mm. 

 Length of auricle of ear from constricted base to 



tip , 232 mm. 



Breadth of auricle of ear . 142 mm. 



The most noticeable features in these proportions are, first, the much greater heigiit 

 of the fore-quarters than the hind-quarters, the great length of the neck, the great 

 length of the ears. In the first two points mentioned the Okapi resembles the Giraffe, 

 which, however, has the same features in an exaggerated degree. In the proportionate 

 length of its ears the Okapi greatly exceeds the Giraffe. 



The hairy coat of the Okapi resembles that of the Giraffe and Zebra in length and 

 quality. 



The colour of the animal is shown in the figures accompanying this memoir. The 

 hair on the body and neck and the top of the head from the occiput to the nostrils 

 and the ears is of a rich reddish brown, whilst that on the side of the face is a creamy 

 white. 



The rump and hind legs, as far as the tarsal joint, are striped transversely with 

 alternate bands of dark chocolate (almost black) and brownish-white hair. A curious 

 feature is the reddish-brown colouring of the narrower parts of the white stripes, 

 which gives the impression that the colour has " run " from the darker stripes. The 



feet. 



inches. 



6 



2 



1 



9 



2 



11 



3 



3 



5 



1 



4 



7 







9 







5i 



