44 



CE R VIC A L VER TEBR^E. 



[CHAP. 



The Fin Whales or Rorquals (genus Balcenopterci] present 

 a totally different condition of cervical vertebrae, as these are, 

 as a rule, all distinct and free, though occasionally, as an 

 individual peculiarity, an irregular ankylosis may take place 

 between two or more of them. 1 



Sfl 



FIG. 15. Section through middle line of united cervical vertebrse of Greenland Right 

 Whale (Balteua mysticetus), \. a articular surface for occipital condyle ; e epi- 

 physis on posterior end of body of seventh cervical vertebra ; sn foramen in arch 

 of atlas for first spinal nerve ; i arch of atlas ',23456 conjoined arches of the 

 axis and four following vertebrae ; 7 arch of seventh vertebra. 



In the common large Fin Whale of our coasts (13. 

 musculus) the atlas (Fig. 16) has short, stout, conical, imper- 

 forate transverse processes. The axis (Fig. 17) has a broad 

 oval body, high massive arch, very short odontoid process, 

 and Very wide, oblong wing-like transverse processes directed 

 somewhat backwards, and with an oval perforation near the 



1 See Professor Struthers " On the Cervical Vertebras and their 

 Articulations in Fin Whales." (Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 

 November 1872.) 



