398 



FOSSILS FKOM PERIM ISLAND. 



The fossil is represented in tlie figure abont two-thirds of 

 the natural size (Plate VI. fig. 3). 



Giraffe {Camelopardalis).^ 



The specimen is a fragment comprising the posterior half 

 of the second cervical vertebra of a Giraffe, a good deal mu- 

 tilated. It shows the characteristic form of the body of 

 the vertebra in this genus, and the cup-shaped articulating 

 surface for the head of the third cervical vertebra. The 

 upper half is wanting, and the posterior oblique processes are 

 broken off. Along the middle of the body there is a well- 

 marked longitudinal ridge, corresponding exactly in form 

 and development to that mentioned as characterizing the 

 third cervical vertebra of the Camelopardalis Sivalensis de- 

 scribed in the ' Proceedings ' of the Geological Soc. (See antea, 

 p. 199). The same remark apphes to the lateral ridges of the 

 body, which are decurrent fi'om the inferior transverse pro- 

 cesses, terminating at the posterior end of the bone in thick 

 expansions. This part of the vertebra is differently formed 

 in both respects in the existing species. The same resem- 

 blance is further shown by the spinous process, the projecting 

 part of which, as in the Sewalik specimen, is placed lower 

 down on the arch than in the living species. The mutilated 

 condition of the fragment prevents the form of this process 

 from being well ascertained ; but the very low position and 

 shape of the most salient part determines the vertebra to 

 have belonged to the second of the neck series. There is 

 enough remaining to indicate that there was a like corre- 

 spondence with the Sewalik fossil in the crirve of the body 

 on its under surface, which is more arched than in existing 

 Giraffes. The specimen is so weathered and abraded as to 

 present only few points for measurement ; but such as may 

 be taken indicate the closest agreement between the fossils : 



Greatest widtli at the posterior end of the body between the 

 transverse processes ....... 



Vertical diameter of articulating cup 



Transverse diameter of ditto ...... 



Perim 

 Island 

 Fossil 



Inches 

 3-1 

 2-1 

 21 



Sewalik 

 Fossil 



Inches 

 3-1 

 2- 

 2- 



The Perim fossil, like the Sewalik one, is proved to have 

 belonged to an adult and even aged animal, by the marked 



• The specimen is now in the British vol. i. Plate xlv. fig. 5, and in an un- 

 Museum (Cat. No. 39,74:8). It is also published plate of the 'Fauna Antiqua 

 figured in the Quart. Jour. Gcol. Soc, Sivalensis' (E. 2). — [Ed.] 



