BEAKED WHALES, FAMILY ZIPHIID^ TRUE. 41 



Ninth thoracic: Similar to that of Barnegat skeleton, but transverse process 

 longer than centrum and directed a little downward, articular facet occupying less 

 than posterior half of free margin; proximal groove inconspicuous; anterior and 

 posterior margins nearly straight. 



■-' Charleston (female, jr.). — The centra of the thoracic, as well as the lumbar, 

 vertebrae in this individual present inferior median keels, and more or le.ss concave 

 sides, which is not the case in the Barnegat and Newport skeletons. This can not 

 be due to immaturity, as in a still younger individual, supposed to represent Ziphius 

 grehnitzhii, the thoracic vertebra are rounded below. The neural spines of the 

 thoracic vertebra? are much less inclmed backward in semijunctus than in the New- 

 port and Barnegat skeletons, but tliis is doubtless connected with age, as the younger 

 series of vertebrae alread}^ mentioned exhibits the peculiarity in a more marked 

 degree. A similar modification dependent upon age appears to affect Hyperoodon, 

 as will be seen b}" comparing Van Beneden and Gervais' figures in the Osteography, 

 plate 18. 



First thoracic: Similar to that of Newport skeleton, but spine not higher than 

 arch alone. (A little abraded at tip, but probably undeveloped.) 



Seventh thoracic: Metapophyses short (abraded), incompletely developed. A 

 distinct facet on side of same on an elongated process, as in Newport skeleton, but 

 no second lai-ger one on side of centrum. No facet on superior margin of centrum 

 either anteriorly or posteriorly. 



Eighth thoracic: Transverse process similar to that of Barnegat skeleton, but 

 anterior edge nearly straight; process about one-half as broad as length of centrum. 

 (Indications of immaturitj'.) 



LUMBAR VERTEBRA. 



Barnegat City (female). — First lumbar: Similar to last thoracic, but transverse 

 process expanded distally and slightly directed forward; a little longer than centrum; 

 anterior and posterior edges emarginate proximally. 



Eleventh lumbar (last) : Centrum ver}' long. Neural arch and spine very high, 

 more than twice length of centrum. Spine inclined backward much be3'ond pos- 

 terior face of centi'um; anterior margin straight, posterior convex, tip expanded. 

 Transverse process a little more than one-half length of centrum, somewhat expanded 

 at distal end and curved forward so that tip is about in line with anterior face of 

 centrum. Metapophyses close to centrum and to each other, semihexagonal in out- 

 line. A sharp median inferior ridge, and shallow posterior oblique channels on 

 under side of centrum. 



Newport (male). — Fu-st lumbar: Similar to that of Barnegat skeleton, but 

 transverse processes considerably longer than the centrum and not expanded at tip; 

 anterior edge straight, posterior only slightly emarginate proximally. 



Tenth lumbar (last) : Centrum like that in Barnegat skeleton. Neural arch 

 and spine only slightly higher than length of centrum. Transverse process oblong, 

 free margin nearly transverse; process inclined forward so that tip is a little bej'ond 

 anterior face of centrum. Metapophyses close to centrum, rounded in outline. 

 Neural spine much inclined backward; anterior edge concave, posterior convex. 



