Voi.^ XV. 1 S]ivi-KL[yi-, Osieoloey of Iliirris's Cormoyant. ns. 



Passing to the axis oi A', harrisi, we Jind a l:)one ha\-ing many 

 striking characters. Its cyhndrical neural canal is not more than 

 half the size of that tube as it exists in the atlas, and the centrum 

 projects far beyond its anterior opening. Distally, this supports 

 the rather large, sessile odontoid process, below which the body of 

 the bone is enlarged and concaved on its anterior aspect. Mesially, 

 and below this, we find a deep pitlet, and posterior to this, on 

 either side, a prominent little process. Above this, laterally, 

 there passes, in life, the vertebral artery in a shallow groove there 

 found. 



The neural arch is much expanded, posteriorly, and produced 

 backward far beyond the centrum. Its free borders are thickened, 

 and its spine is represented by a low, median ridge or line. On 

 the other hand, the haemal spine is large and triangular, having 

 an anterior sharpened border with its apex supporting an 

 elli})tical lamina of bone. 



The postzygapophysial facets are flush with the surface of the 

 nether side of the neural arch, one on either side of the entrance 

 of the spinal canal. This is the position they likewise occupy in 

 the third cervical vertebra, while the prezygapophysial ones, on 

 the dorsal aspect of the bone — each elliptical in outline — are 

 placed one on either side, above the large canal for the vertebral 

 artery. The pleurapophyses commence on this vertebra as 

 rather short, stout processes, and the haemal — still of considerable 

 size — is sharp in front and bifurcated below. On the dorsal aspect, 

 the neural arch, still broad behind, inclines to curl forward, its 

 outer angles being produced in that direction as minute spine- 

 like processes, while mesially, at the same time posteriorly, a low 

 neural spine develops. Fig. 12 of Plate XVI. shows these vertebrae 

 — the leading seven cervicals — but their dorsal surfaces are toward 

 the lower border of the plate, whereas they should be in the same 

 position as the cervicals shown in fig. 13 of the same plate. 



To include the eighth cervical they all exhibit, on the ventral 

 aspect of the centrum, just posterior to the articulation, a notable 

 concavity, which disappears in the succeeding vertebras. The 

 haemal spines likewise disappear. There is but little change in 

 the neural spine from what we found it to be in the third cervical, 

 and the pleurapophyses do not change in any marked degree. 

 The vertebral canals increase somewhat in size, and the vertebras 

 themselves gradually become larger and broader. 



This eighth cervical vertebra of Harris's Cormorant is the leading 

 one shown in fig. 13 of Plate XVI., and it will be noted there that 

 the character of its neural spine has changed, it being well 

 developed, and triangular, with its apex directed forwards. The 

 post-zygapophyses in this vertebra are more individualized and 

 forking. 



In my " Osteology of the Steganopodes," cited al)ove, I have 

 given a full account of the peculiarities of the seventh, eighth, 

 and ninth cervical vertebrae in various Cormorants, as well as in 

 Anhinga and the Bitterns. This account is so complete that it is 



