ON THE VISCERA OF AN OKAPI. 



187 



11. Notes on some of the Viscera of an Okapi {Okapia 

 Johnstoiii Sclater). By R. H. Burne, M.A , F.Z.S. 



[Received March 9, 1917 : Read April 3, 1917.] 



(Text-figures 1-23.) 

 Index. 



Page 



Structure or Morphology 187 



During the winter of 1915-1916 certain parts of the viscera of 

 an Okapi were sent by Dr. Cuthbert Christy to the Royal College 

 of Surgeons for investigation. 



They included the tongue and the soft parts of the anterior end 

 of the throat, the contents of the thorax, the stomach, and the 

 colic coil of the intestine. 



A superficial examination revealed, as was to be expected, a 

 general similarity to the corresponding viscera of the Domestic 

 Ruminants, but a more detailed comparison with other genera * 

 made it clear that underlying this general Ruminant type of 

 structure were many small and individually unobtrusive pecu- 

 liarities that pointed definitely to a very close relationship 

 between the Okapi and the Giraffe. 



The Tongue (text-figs. 1 & 2). 



The tongue of the Okapi, though of the Ruminant type, 

 resembles most nearly that of the Giraffe, both by reason of its 

 great length and slenderness (it measures some 14 in. in length 

 by from 1| to 2 in. in breadth) and its sharp pointed extremity 

 and smooth base. It is thus distinguished from the tongues of 

 Antelopes and Deer, the tip of which is as a rule either blunt or 

 broadly spatulate, and in which the surface of the elevated base 

 or intermolar fixed portion is covered with large fleshy papillae. 



It is manifestly difficult to state with accuracy the relative 

 measurements of a tongue or the proportions that its different 

 parts bear to one another, as they depend on its degree of exten- 

 vsion ; but after comparison with numerous tongues of Antelopes 

 and other Ruminants, both fresh and preserved, it seems fairly 

 clear that the free part of the Okapi's tongue is considerably 

 more developed relative to the base than is that of other 

 Ruminants, with the exception of the Giraffe. 



The form and disposition of the various papillae upon the sur- 

 face of the tongue differ little from those in the Giraffe, and are 



* I am indebted to the Zoological Society for material for use in the comparative 

 study of the throat and tongue, — Giraffe, Crowned Duiker, Indian Antelope, Black 

 Buck, Scemmering's Gazelle, and G-azella rufifrons. 



Use was also made of preparations in the Royal College of Surgeons Collection of 

 the tongue and larynx of many Ruminants, of the heart and lungs of Ox, Sheep, and 

 Goat, and of the stomach of a young Giraffe and of several Antelopes and the 

 Domestic Ruminants. 



13* 



