NIMEAVID^. 969 



The cervical vertebrce have about the size and i^roportions of those 

 of the leopard and the panther, differing only in minor respects. The centra 

 are moderately depressed, and have oblique articular extremities, but the 

 obliquity is rather less marked than in Uncice ho, concolor or pardus, or Felis 

 clomestica. All are perforated by the vertebrarterial canal, excepting the sixth, 

 as usual. The transverse processes of tlie atlas are about as wide as in the 

 species named, but are more contracted at the base. The latter is pierced 

 posteriorly, and in the middle inferiorly, by the vertebrarterial canal. The 

 neural arch of the axis is more elevated in front than in the recent large cats, 

 so that the interspinous foramen is larger. The axis also differs from the 

 recent species in having the posterior borders of the arch above the zyga- 

 pophyses regularly concave, and not filled ( U. leo, F. domestica) or interrupted 

 (U. concolor, U. imrdus) by the opisthapophysis. The neural arch has the 

 median posterior prolongation usual in Felidce. The transverse process is 

 acuminate, and extends as far posteriorly as the vertical line of the post- 

 zygapophyses. The hypapophysial keel of the axis is weak, but a little 

 stronger than in the lion. The other cervicals can scarcely be said to be 

 keeled, though traces are present on some of the centra, which on the third, 

 fourth, and fifth, spread out posteriorly into triangular areas. Opisthapo- 

 physes are only present on the third and fourth cervicals. In the recent 

 species I find them present, as follows: 



Nimravus gomphodus, 3-4 ; 

 Unda leo, 2-3-4-5-6-7 ; 

 Uncia concolor, 2-3-4-5 ; 

 Uncia pardus, 2-3-4-5-6-7 ; 

 Cyncelurus jubatus, 2-3-4 ; 

 Felis domestica, 2-3-4-5-6-7. 



All the cervicals behind the third have well-developed neural spines, 

 that of the seventh covering the entire length of the neural arch by its base. 

 The transverse processes present some peculiarities. The principal feature 

 is the greater prolongation downwards of the diapophysial element, and 

 hence less separation from the parapophysial than in the species above 

 mentioned, especially in the fourth and succeeding vertebrae. The para- 

 pophyses have considerable expanse both transversely and fore-and-aft. 



The first and second dorsal vertebrse differ from those of all the Felidce 



