VISCERA OF AN OKAPI. 



189 



characteristically Ruminant. The dorsal surface and sides are 

 clothed with a close layer of sharp-pointed filiform papilla? which 

 are more or less cornified, particularly so upon a central area of 

 the dorsal surface close behind the tip, where they form a patch 

 of small horny recurved spines. 



Fungiform papilla? are scattered sparsely all over those parts of 

 the free extremity and base that are coated with filiform papilla? 

 except, as one frequently sees among Ruminants, along the 

 central line of the dorsum. 



Circumvallate papilla?, to the number of 15 or so on either side, 

 are arranged in two indistinct irregular rows far back upon each 

 side of the base of the tongue. This is the normal Ruminant 

 position and arrangement, but the indistinctness of the individual 

 papilla? and of the limits of the group as a whole recall more 

 particularly the condition in the Giraffe. 



There are no foliate papilla?, and, as previously mentioned, the 

 base of the tongue is smooth, as in the Giraffe. 



Text- figure 2. 



Lingual papillae of OJcapia jolinstoni. 



In a large number of Ruminants (nearly all Antelopes, the 

 Giraffe, some Sheep and Oxen, but not in Deer) parts of the 

 free extremity of the tongue are deeply pigmented. This also is 

 the case in the Okapi, where the pigmented area includes the 

 extreme tip of the tongue and extends some way backwards on 

 either lateral surface, gradually fading away (text-fig. 1, p.). 



In the valley between the base of the tongue and the gums, 

 there is in all Ruminants a fold of mucous membrane fringed by 

 a number of sharp-pointed papilla? similar in character and 

 probably also in function to the conical papilla? that clothe the 

 inner surface of the cheeks. 



A similar fringe of fleshy papilla? lies beside the base of the 

 tongue of the Okapi ; but whereas in all the other Ruminants 

 examined the papilla? are simple conical processes flattened from 

 side to side and usually recurved like the thorns of a rose, in the 

 Okapi they have quite a peculiar shape, being swollen and blunt 

 with two three or more short, sharp horny spines projecting 

 from their rounded free extremities (text-fig. 2). 



