44 Dr. G. Baur on Meiolania. 



all the Phurodira known the dtapophj/sis of the second ver- 

 tebra is in the middle ; in all Cryptodlra it is in front ; and 

 so it is in Meiolania. 



11. " Two adult skeletons of Testudo polyphemus^'' in the 

 British Museum " do not show the slightest resemblance to 

 Miolania in their first and second vertebrse." 



I give an exact drawing of the atlas and axis of Testudo 

 polyphemus (PI. VI. figs. 3, 4) (no. 645 Peabodj Mus.) and 

 of Meiolania (fig. 5) *, and leave it to the judgment of the 

 readers whether they are alike or not. Besides that I give a 

 description of these vertebras. 



Meiolania. 



Atlas. — Intercentrura coossified with neuroids of atlas, 

 between intercentrum and each neuroid a foramen. Centrum 

 very short, entirely free from intercentrum, convex in front, 

 concave behind ; intercentra two, coossified with the posterior 

 part of the centrum, forming two processes behind ; no face for 

 neuroids on the upper part of centrum ; anterior face convex, 

 forming a ball, which moves in the posterior articular face 

 of the atlas-ring. 



Axis. — Centrum strongly emarginate behind, no keel on 

 lower face ; probably concave behind ; a strong diapophysis 

 directly behind and below prjezygapophysis, but in front of 

 centrum, not in the middle; diapopliyscs not directed back- 

 wards. 



Testudo polyphemus (typical specimen from Florida). 



Atlas. — Intercentrum coossified with neuroids in very old 

 specimens ; between intercentrum and each neuroid a fora- 

 men, which may be open behind. Centrum very short, 

 entirely free from intercentrum, convex in front, concave 

 behind ; intercentra two, coossified with the posterior part of 

 centrum in old specimens (suture still visible in no. 645), 

 forming two processes behind; no face for neuroids on the 

 upper part of centrum ; anterior face convex, forming a ball, 

 which moves in the posterior articular face of the atlas-ring. 



Axis. — Centrum strongly emarginate behind, no keel on 

 lower face ; concave behind, a pretty strong diapophysis, ante- 

 rior face a little below, posterior entirely behind prsezyga- 

 pophysis; in front of centrum, not in the middle. Dia- 

 pophyses not directed backwards. 



I beg to compare the figures and description of the first 



* The drawiug is made from the cast ; the single elements of the ver- 

 tebra) are placed in the natural position. 



