﻿41 



79 



on each of the 5 elongalcd vcrlebrtv a triangular facet posteriorly on the basal 

 part of the arches, into whicli the strongly developed, anterior articulating process 

 is firmly wedged, without i)erniitting any movement. Thus, a true transverse 

 process would seem to l)c absent on the 1st vertebra, just as in Amphisile and 

 many other bony fishes. The transverse processes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4lh verte- 

 bræ are very strong, with a fiat extension al the base; their ends are firmly bound 

 by tight connective tissue to three of the plaies in the dorsal armour, as we have 

 already seen above. 



The spinous processes of the first to third vertebræ are 

 greatly developed (cf. PI. II, fig. 2), quite filling the spaces 

 between the likewise enlarged anterior 4 inlerspinous bones; 

 in the 4th vertebra only the base of the spinous process is 

 enlarged, its upper end tapering to a slender point behind 

 the basal part of the 4th interspinal. The 5th vertebra, the 

 smallest of the enlarged group, has the transverse processes 

 shorter and more slender, pointing forwards but not reaching 

 the armour and connected only by connective tissue with the 

 posterior end of the ridge on the third scutum; the base of 

 the spinous process is somewhat enlarged, the remainder 

 slender like those of the following vertebræ. In the (Uh 

 vertebra the transverse process divides dislally into an inner 

 and an outer branch; on the 7th the inner branch bends 

 down vertically, on the 8lh and 9lh it meets its fellow from 

 the other side, forming basally a narrow canal but still bi- 

 furcating distally; first in the 10th vertebra do the distal ends 

 merge into one long inferior spine; I therefore take this ver- 

 tebra as the first caudal (cf. above). The outer branch per- 

 sists as an outwards directed transverse process (absorbing a 

 smaller, posterior process which in some specimens is devel- 

 oped on the 6th and 7th vertebræ); gradually decreasing in length this process 

 eventually disappears on the caudals (generally about the 8lh caudal or 17th ver- 

 tebra). The inferior faces of the last three abdominal vertebræ are deeply hollowed 

 out to lodge the posterior part of the kidney. The 6th vertebra is movably arti- 

 culated to the 5th, and the following as is usual in teleosts are movably connected 

 by articular processes. The upper and lower spines of the last caudal vertebræ, 

 behind the dorsal and anal fins, are distally flattened and somewhat enlarged. 

 Between the penultimate upper spine and the last (containing the urostyle) an 

 independent piece of bone is intercalated. 



Ribs are wanting. 



Inlerspinous bones (PI. II, fig. 2). As in Amphisile the inlerspinous bones 

 of the dorsal fin fall into two groups, an anterior consisting of 4, well-developed, 

 with the lower ends placed in front of the spinous processes of the Ist to the 4th 



U. K. D.Vidensk. Selsk. Ski-.. 7. Kække, n.lluivi<lensk. 0(< miilhem. Afil. VI. ••. H 



riie 



Fig. 24. 

 Ceiitrisclts srnlopax. 

 1 nnlorior :il)it<niiinal \rr 

 tebi-æ, se.Mi Inmi hclcw 

 the fXosk<-U-lciii rriimvot 

 from Iho Icll side; on lln 

 right side the l;ilc'i:il i>l;iU' 

 / V/0))arfseeii will. Ilici 

 I'idge /. u: articiilnr prn 

 cess of firsl vorU'bra. I : n 

 openings for nerves iclV 

 fig. 1. \iA(i (8)). 



