1832.] Further Illustrations of the Antilope Hodgsonii. 63 



Dimensions and character of the Skull and Horns of the Antilope Hodgsonii. 



The length of the skull, from the symphysis of the intermaxillary 

 bone, to the superior edge of the great occipital foramen, by a line 

 passing along the frontal and sagittal* sutures, and continued down the 

 middle of the occiput, is 1 foot 1|- inches. 



From the extremity of the nasal bones to the central point of their 

 insertion with the frontal, 3§- in. ; from the commencement of the 

 frontal suture to its junction with the coronal, 3 \ in. ; thence to the 

 lambdoidal suture 1|- in. ; thence to the transverse crista of the 

 occiput, 1 in. ; thence to the edge of the foramen magnum, ]i in. 



The utmost height, or vertical dimensions of the skull, from the 

 ridge of the parietal to the lowest edge of the ramus of the jaw, 6i in. 

 Utmost breadth of the skull, across the molars and before the orbital 

 ridges, 3 in. 



The orbits are placed laterally, with a decided obliquity forwards and 

 outwards, and consists of very firm and complete bony circles, which are 

 open behind to -the temporal fossae, as usual. The nearest interval 

 between them measures 3± in. the widest and posterior interval 4-Z. in. 



The core or osseous nucleus of the horns has a large oval cavity, 

 communicating by one clear canal with the frontal sinus. 



The cavity has nothing porous or cellular about it; but is a perfect, 

 smoothly-walled, sinus, partly excided from the frontal bones, and 

 partly from the pedicular or basal portion of the horn's core. 



It is | of an inch broad and \\ inch high ; and from the anterior 

 and inferior edge of it is opened the canal communicating forwards. 

 This canal, like the greater cavity, is smooth-walled, and free from 

 cellular partitions. It is of an uniform cylindrical shape, with the 

 diameter of a crow's quill. At the forward end it throws off a duct 

 opening into the frontal sinus, and then proceeds to communicate with 

 the nose, by means of 3 or 4 cellular perforations in this the anterior 

 extremity of the canal or tube, and where alone there is the least 

 appearance of cellular formation, either in the canal, or in the great 

 cavity above it. 



The bony nucleus extends about |rds up the horns, or as far as the 

 annuli, and is of a remarkably compact and hard structure, towarda 

 their bases ; more fibrous and soft, towards their tips. 



As I have spoiled a beautiful skull to ascertain these facts, I must 

 crave permission to say, scepticism avaunt ! 



* i. e. by a line best so defined, for of course the sagittal suture exist* not. 



