4 KIN VK LÖNNBERG, ANATOMICAL NOTES ON EAST AFRICAN MA.MMALS. 



The aumber and arrangement of these ridges is thus on thc whole in agreement 

 with the condition found in the Common Ox as has been beautifully illustrated by 

 G. IIi.Tzns. 1 although his figure represents the palate of a calf so that the situation 

 with regard to the permanent teeth is not seen. 



The papiUa fungiformes are scattered över the basal portion of the tongue. 

 I n the cow 1 did not see bnt two series of papiUce vallalce on either side. Thev 

 contained 6 + 6 and 4 T such papillse respectively. In the hull there were tliree 

 somewhal oblique and irregular rows of papillce vallatce on either side. The outer- 

 most of these contained 9 papillse on both sides of the tongue while the other rows 

 only consisted of resp. .'$, 4. ö and 6 papillse. This Lrregularity appeara somewhal 

 stränge but even in common cattle the nuniber of papillce vallatce is variable from 

 lo to 17 on either side according to ELLENBERGER and Baum.'- 



The pauneh of the African Buffalo is enormous and extends into the pelvie 

 region, but the abomasus is small. 



The spleen is rather thin and elongate, of approximately the same Bhape as in 

 common cattle, but larger. This organ measured in the Buffalo cow 70x30 cm., 

 and in the hull 60 X 17 1 / 8 c ' m - According to ELLENBERGER & BAUM this organ has 

 a breadth of 10 — 15 cm., and a length of 40 — 50 cm. in common cattle. The spleen 

 of the Buffalo is thus much larger. 



The liver of the Buffalo cow had a maximum transversal length of about 50 

 cm., and its width w as about 2.3 cm. In the bull the corresponding measurements 

 were 62 em. and 25 cm. The left lobe was 25 X 19 cm. Lobus caudatus had a 

 breadth of 7 cm. The Spigelian lobe was only present as a broad rounding which 

 does not. project. The gallbladder extended in both sexes free beyond the edge of 

 the liver. 



The colic spiral consisted of 5 coils, viz 2 Va in each direction, and, like the 

 te organ of the common Ox, it had no peripheric coil. The absenoe of this lat ter 

 is a very importanl characteristic which unites all the members of the Taurine, or 

 Bovine group s. str. of Bovidce, from the pseudo-primitive Anoa to Hos taurus, in 

 opposition to all other Ihiminants, not only those belonging to Bovida', but also to 

 the members of Cervidfc and Giraffidm as well. This pheripheric coil of the colon 

 has evidently the function of desiocating the faeoes. The African Buffalo in which 

 this coil is wanting has therefore soft and loose excrements, quite similar to those 

 of Bos taurus, while the Giraffes, the Deer, the Antelopes, and the Sheep and Goats 

 have härd and dry, more or less bean-shaped droppings. The fact that the Bovine 

 group s. str. is iinlike, not only the other Cavicornia in this respect, bul also diff era 

 from Cervicomia by the same characteristic, proves that the peripheric coil must have 

 been present in the ancestors of all the enumerated modern Ruminants, and that its 

 absence in the Bovine group is due to a Beoondary reduetion. The question is then: 

 uhat h,is been the oause of such a reduetion? The effecl which the presence of the 



Bio] i ti - «i. i, \ \\ Bd XIII Tal XXXVIII, Fig. i. 

 Handbucta d, vergl. \natomie d, llaustiere, i l:te Ami. 



