72 0?i the Tdkin of the Eastern Himalaya. [Jan. 



scull. Thus the nasal, frontal and parietal bones partake of the cur- 

 vature proper to the whole superior surface of the scull ; and that sur- 

 face falls into the posteal and occipital surface by an angle much less 

 acute and decided than in Bos or Ovis (Amnion), giving thereby to 

 the scull of the Takin a decidedly Antelopine (cervine) character quoad 

 this important feature. The facial bones have a length intermediate 

 between the Ovine shortness and Bovine elongation, and they terminate 

 in front less broadly and squarely than in Bos, less narrowly and 

 roundly than in Ovis. The lower jaw is nearly straight, so that the 

 inferior line of the scull, partakes not of the arcuate form distinguishing 

 its superior or culminal line. The nasals, not remarkable for defect 

 or excess of length or of width, are signally so for their great convex 

 curvature, both cross-wise and length-wise, so as, with the depth of 

 the cheek bones, to leave a very ample cavity for the lodgment of 

 the olfactory apparatus. On the other hand, the auditory cavity is ex- 

 tremely small. The frontals are far from possessing the same develop- 

 ment, in length or breadth, before the horns or on the facial aspect 

 of the scull, as distinguishes these bones in Bos, whose frontals are 

 entirely developed anteriorly to the horns, and whose widely separated 

 and moderately thick horns afford ample space for the lateral spread 

 of the frontals, whereas the proximate and thick horns of the Takin, 

 reduce the width of the frontals, (which are but partially developed 

 anteriorly to the horns,) in their upper part to an extreme degree of 

 narrowness. From this narrowest and intercornual part, however, the 

 frontals of the Takin, widen rapidly forwards until between the very 

 salient orbits, they have a breadth exceeding that of the frontals of O. 

 ammon or of any Antelope, whose scull is accessible to me. 



The curvature of the nasals is continued to the frontals, especially 

 the transverse arcuation, which is signal between the orbits, but the 

 arcuation length-wise is less marked and less uniform, owing to the 

 cause above assigned. Indeed, between the cores of the horns and the 

 orbits, the frontals are nearly flat, but recover their longitudinal and 

 transverse convexity on passing backwards beyond the horns. The 

 frontals are broader than long, as measured between the anteal edges 

 of the orbits and the frontal crest, but nearly equal in length and 

 width, if taken between their forward apices, and their junction with 

 the parietal bone. The intercornual crest is very short, as already 



