v.] INSECTIVORA. 49 



spine. Similar processes are developed, but to a less ex- 

 tent, in the Howling Monkeys (Mycetes) and in Lagothrix. 



The foramina for the exit of the spinal nerves, instead of 

 being " intervertebral," perforate the pedicles of the arches 

 in the Potto {Perodidicus). In the same genus, two or three 

 of the anterior thoracic vertebrae have ver}^ long slender 

 spinous processes, which in the living animal project beyond 

 the general level of the skin, forming distinct conical 

 prominences, covered only by an exceedingly thin and 

 naked integument. 



In the Carnivora, the trunk vertebras are nearly always 

 20 or 21 in number. The genera Felis, Cam's, and Vivcrra 

 have 13 thoracic and 7 lumbar, Hycena 15 and 5, ATustela, 

 A'asua, Procyon, and Ui'sus 14 and 6, Meles 15 and 5 ; 

 Mephitis \\2iS the exceptionally high number of 16 and 6, 

 and Mellivora but 14 and 4. Among the Seals, Cystophora 

 and Otaria have 15 and 5, Tricheais 14 and 6, and Phoca 

 14 and 5. 



The spines of the anterior thoracic vertebrae are long and 

 slender, and slope back to about the eleventh (the a?iticlinal) , 

 after which they are shorter, thicker (from before backwards), 

 and lean forwards. From this point also metapophyses and 

 anapophyses become distinctly developed; the latter are 

 especially large in the FelidcB. The lumbar vertebrse have 

 long transverse processes directed forwards and rather 

 downwards, and short, stout, compressed spinous pro- 

 concesses. 



In the Seals, the trunk vertebrae present much the same 

 characters, but the anapophyses are usually but slightly 

 developed, or may be altogether absent, and the spinous 

 processes show no convergence to a " centre of motion." 



Among the Insectivora, the number of the trunk vertebrae 

 varies much in the different genera, from 18(13 thoracic and 



E 



