516 Remarks o?i Professor Rennie's Editimi 



its reception, but there is a very curious bony excrescence 

 which unites the two vertebrae firmly together on the right 

 side (d). The two vertebrae are perfectly distinct and se- 

 parate as usual, except at that one point. There are no 

 appearances whatever of the second vertebra having been 

 joined in a similar manner to the third, the under surface of 

 the former being perfectly smooth. What I would particu- 

 larly remark in this specimen is, that whilst, in all the spinal 

 columns that I have ever seen. Nature has (as it has been 

 explained) provided in an especial manner for the horizontal 

 motion of the head, she has in this instance made an especial 

 provision against the possibility of such an occurrence. The 

 lower cervical, the dorsal, and the lumbar vertebrae, are not 

 wanted to move horizontally, and there is, therefore, no tooth- 

 like process in any of them ; but, on the other hand, they have 

 nothing analogous to the bony excrescence which is observ- 

 able in3%. 102., to keep them firm ; the surrounding ligaments, 

 &c., are sufficient for the purpose. From the specimen I have 

 described, it would almost appear that Nature had feared that 

 the atlas would instinctively try to move in a rotatory direc- 

 tion, as in the generality of cases ; and that thus an extra-fast- 

 ening was provided, for keeping the animal from attempting 

 to imitate its neighbours, for which it had not the requisite 

 apparatus with which they are furnished. Whether these 

 vertebrae belonged to an individual of a species of vertebrated 

 animals who enjoy but a circumscribed action of the head, or 

 whether it is an instance of malformation, I do not pretend 

 to decide. The fact is a curious one ; and I do not remember 

 ever to have seen a similar circumstance noticed in any of the 

 works which treat of that deservedly admired piece of animal 

 mechanism, the spinal column. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Londo?i, Oct. 9. 1830. C. B. 



The dimensions of each vertebra are 3^ in. deep, and the 

 diameter of the spinal canal If in. The transverse processes 

 are broken off at their extremities. 



Art. IX. Remarks on Professor Rennie's Edition of Montagus 

 Ornithological Dictionary, By Charles Waterton, Esq. 



" It is admitted by all the naturalists already quoted, that the nest in 

 question (grebe's) is built on moist ground, if not actually touching the 

 water, and that part at least of the materials consist of moist water plants. 

 Now, it is indispensable to hatching, that the eggs be kept at a high tern- 



