47 
processes of the two vertebr next behind ; and thus they become the medium of mus- 
cular forces acting from not less than five distinct points, the power of which is aug- 
mented by each tendon being braced down by the oblique converging series of muscles 
immediately anterior to it. The fasciculus from the eighth cervical vertebra, besides its 
insertion by the ordinary tendon, sends off externally a small pyramidal bundle of mus- 
cular fibres (Pl. XI. n*), which soon terminates in a long and slender tendon which is 
inserted into the oblique process of the third cervical vertebra. Corresponding portions 
of muscle (Pl. XI. & XII, n**) are detached from the two anterior fasciculi, which con- 
verge and terminate in a common slender tendon inserted into the posterior oblique 
process of the fourth cervical vertebra; and thus terminates this complex muscle or 
series of muscles. 
Longus collt posticus (Pl. XI. & XII. fig. 1. o 1—9),—The most internal or mesial of 
the superficial muscles of the dorsal aspect of the thoracic and cervical regions, called 
cervicalis ascendens by Meckel, and compared in part with the spinalis dorsi by Cuvier, 
cannot be the representative of either of these muscles, since they both (1** & p) co-exist 
separately with it in the Apleryx. At its posterior part the muscle in question seems to 
be rather a continuation of the longissimus dorsi ; its mesial and anterior part offers a strong 
analogy with the biventer cervicis ; it appears to me to be evidently the analogue of the 
first, or mesio-dorsal series of oblique fibres of the muscular system in Fishes, but I shall 
adopt the name of the longus colli posticus applied to it by Cuviert. It commences by 
long and slender, but strong, subcompressed tendons from the spines of the sixth, fifth 
and fourth dorsal vertebrae (Pl. XII, 0): these tendons gradually expand as they proceed 
forwards and downwards, and send off from their under surface muscular fibres which con- 
tinue in the same course, and begin to be-grouped into distinct fasciculi at the base of the 
neck : the first of these bundles (0 1) joins the fasciculus of the longissimus dorsi (m**), 
which is inserted into the posterior articular process of the thirteenth cervical vertebra ; 
the succeeding fasciculi derive their origins from a broad and strong aponeurotic sheet 
attached to the spines of the fourth, third and second dorsal vertebra : the second to the 
eighth fasciculi inclusive are compressed, broad and fleshy, and are inserted in the strong 
round tendons described in the preceding muscle, and attached to the oblique processes 
of the twelfth to the sixth cervical vertebra inclusive: the ninth fasciculus (0 9), which 
forms the main anterior continuation of the longus colli posticust, is larger than the rest, 
and receives, as it advances, accessory fibres from the spinous processes of the seventh 
(o*) to the third cervical vertebre inclusive, and is inserted, partly fleshy, partly by a 
strong tendon, into the side of the broad spine of the vertebra dentata. A slender fas- 
ciculus is detached from the mesial and dorsal margin of the longus colli posticus, near 
the base of the neck, which soon terminates in a long round tendon (0**): this tendon 
is braced down by short aponeurotic fibres to the spine of the fifth, fourth, third and 
+ Legons d’Anat. Comp,, 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 284. 
t * Accessoires du long postérieur du cou,’ Cuvier, loc, cit. p. 284. 
