NUMERICAL VARIATION IN THE HUMAN SPINE. 289 



of the antepenultimate should be. The spread of the transverse processes of the loins is 

 normal, increasing up to the 3d. The 5th lumbar is much like a last one, but the 4th has 

 not the characteristic transverse processes of a penultimate, though they are more slender 

 than those above or below them. The sacrum consists of six vertebrae, of which the last 

 is to be reckoned the Ist coccygeal. It is thoroughly fused, but does not complete a pair 

 of sacral foramina. The 1st sacral (24th) is a typical fulcralis, with the promontory 

 above it. It is quite sacral behind, and, indeed, would be perfect were it not that the 

 transverse processes are a little too well defined. The auricular surfaces extend at least 

 half way down the 3d sacral. The three lower pieces of the coccyx are fused into one. 



From measurements made on the fresh spine we can compare both the actual and the 

 relative length of the regions with the average. In so doing we ignore the fact that this 

 spine came from a negro. 



It is clear that there has been l)ut a slight effort to compensate for the want of a ver- 

 tebra in the back by a greater height of the persisting ones. 



This specimen is a very important one. Not only is the 24th evidently the Julcralis, 

 but in spite of the absence of one thoracic vertebra, the lower end of the thorax is almost 

 typical and the same may be said of the lumbar region. Should anyone doubt that the 

 24th may be n fulcralis I should refer him to this specimen with perfect confidence. The 

 spines of Group B of the last class and of Groups A and B of this one are in a tolerably 

 good series to show the progressive sacralization of the 24th. Holl in 1882, although not 

 denying that the 24th might be a. fulcralis, declared that he had never seen it. I was first 

 inclined to put in Cla.ss V two spines that are now in Class IV. At first I thought the 

 24th the fulcralis, and later decided that it pi'obably was not. In all the cases in this 

 class I believe the 24th is the fulcralis, but I feel that in one or two instances it might 

 be difficult to prove it to any one who refused to accept it. 



Group C. 



The next two spines are both very remarkable. On one side each has a perfect rib 

 from the 7th vertebra to the sternmn, and the second specimen has the next rib on that side 

 passing to the junction of the manubrium and body of the sternum. One would be almost 



