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Show ]891] DR. C. J. FORSYTH MAJOR ON FOSSIL GIRAFFID^E. 317 The same remarks apply to the Giraffa attica (Gaud, et Lart.), from Pikermi, the limb-bones of which, the only parts known, approximate this form to the living species. Some molar teeth are also doubtfully referred to it. Gaudry himself, who described the remains, calls attention to the fact that, the cranium being unknown, no definite determination is possible 1. Concerning the Giraffa vetusta (Wagner), founded on an incomplete maxillary from Pikermi2, and the Giraffa microdon (Koken) from China, represented by a few molars 3, nothing more can be said than that the teeth are very Giraffe-like and closely approach those ascribed to the Giraffa attica. Lastly, the Giraffa parva (Weithofer) from Pikermi 4 has been pronounced of late by its describer5 to belong to a different genus, which we shall have to consider later. 2. SAMOTHERIUM 6. When the first remains of a large ruminant were brought to light by my Greek workmen at Samos, I believed I had found the Hella-dotherium, the large Giraffe-like ruminant discovered at Pikermi by Gaudry. The subsequent discovery of several skulls, all of them hornless, showed at once differences from Helladotherium. Two fragments of the frontal, each bearing a horn implanted directly above the roof of the orbit, were so different from what is known in existing Giraffes, as well as in Antelopes and Bovines, that I was not at the time able to classify them. The subsequent discovery, however, of the posterior part of the skull belonging to one of the frontals at once resolved the enigma in quite an unexpected manner, indicating a member of the GiratHdae provided with horns, but in every other respect so closely identical with the hornless skulls just mentioned that both must evidently be considered as belonging to the same species, the hornless skulls doubtless representing the female sex. This is what I have called Samotherium boissieri7. Later on was found by me the nearly complete skull now in the British Museum, shown of one-sixth the natural size in the accompanying figure (p. 318). 1 A. Gaudry,' Animaux foss. et Geol. de 1'Attique,' pp. 245-252. 2 A. Wagner, " Nachtrage zur Kenntniss der fossilen Hufthier-Ueberreste von Pikermi," Sitzungsb. der k. bayer. Akademie d. Wissensch. pp. 78-82, fig. 1 (Jahrg. 1861, Bd. ii., Munchen).-K. A. Weithofer, " Beitrage z. Kenntniss der Fauna von Pikermi bei Athen," Beitrage zur Palaontologie Oesterreich-Un-garns (Bd. vi.), Wien, 1888, p. 284, Taf. xvii. (viii.) figs. 1, 2. 3 E. Koken, " Fossile Saugethiere Chinas," Palaont. Abh. heraus^eg. von Dames und Kayser, Bd. iii. Heft. 2, 1885, p. 61, Taf. iii. (viii.). figs. 13-15. 4 A. Weithofer," Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Fauna von Pikermi bei Athen,': (I. s. c.) pp. 281-285, Taf. xvi. (vii.) A. Rodler und K. A.Weithofer," Die Wiederkauer der Fauna von Maragha," Abdruck aus dem lvii. Bande d. Denkschr. der mathem.-naturwiss. Classe der kais. Akademie der Wissensch. Wien, 1890, pp. 6, 10. 6 Forsyth Major, " Sur un gisement d'ossements fossiles dans l'ile de Samos, contemporains de l'age de Pikermi, " Comptes rend us de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, seance du 31 dec, 1888. 7 Loc. cit. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1891, No. XXII. 22 |