GENERA L CHA RA C TERS. 



63 



Caudal Vertebrcc. — The vertebrae of the tail vary greatly 

 in number and in characters in ditterent animals. When 

 it is well developed, as, for example, in the long-tailed 

 Carnivora, from one of which the accompanying figures 



Fig. 25. — Anterior surface of third cauHal vertebra of Leopard (Felis leopardns), \. 

 az anterior zygapophysis ; pz posterior zygapophysis ; rn metapophysis ; / trans- 

 verse process. 



are taken, the anterior vertebrae (Figs. 25 and 26) are 

 comparatively short and broad, with complete neural 

 arches, though without distinct spines, prominent metapo- 

 physes, and anterior and posterior zygapophyses (the latter 



Fig. 26. — Upper surface of the t'-ird caadal vertebra of I eop^ird, % az anterior 

 zygapophysis ; pz posterior zygapophysis ; ;« metapophysis ; / transverse process. 



especially being raised on pedicles), and well-developed 

 single transverse processes. But a gradual change takes 

 place in these characters (see Figs. 27 and 28), the body 

 lengthens out and becomes more and more cylindrical ; the 



