l'2'2 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



sight seems impossible to have belonged to an animated 

 being, did we not know the creative power of an Al- 

 mighty and wondrous God, whose works are 



" By boundless love and perfect wisdom form'd." 



As in most of the other mammalia, we can divide the 

 bones of the spine into four series : cervical, dorsal, lum- 

 bar, and caudal. 



Of the Vertebra or Bones of the Neck. — The first 

 three of these have no spinal processes ; but it appears, 

 from its projecting from the cranium, that the spinal 

 marrow passes from the brain into its proper canal, 

 which is formed by the three lateral processes of the 

 first three bones of the neck * This, it is to be observed, 

 is only a supposition of the superintendent of the dis- 

 section, Dr. Dubar, who states that the soft parts were 

 in such a state of decomposition, that it was almost im- 

 possible to distinguish it. The true spinal canal com- 

 mences at the fifth cervical vertebra, and extends nearly 

 to the last caudal vertebra, being lost at the fifty-fourth. 



This canal is formed of a triangular shape, by a series 

 of spinous processes which make the arch on the bodies 

 of the bones composing the spine, for the reception of 

 the spinal marrow. 



The Atlas, or the first Bone of the Neck. — The an- 

 terior surface presents two articular fossee (cavities) for 

 the reception of the condyloid processes or knobs of the 

 occipital bone, and is the means of the head articulating 

 upon the trunk ; superiorly and laterally there are two 

 canals capable of receiving the human little finger, which 

 give passage to the vertebral vessels. The two trans- 



* Forme par des apophyses laterales des trois premieres cervicales. — 

 Dubar. 



