14 



CERVICAL VERTEBRA. 



[CHAP. 



The Fin Whales or Rorquals (genus Bal&noptcra) present 

 a totally different condition of cervical vertebra?, as these are, 

 as a rule, all distinct and free, though occasionally, as an 

 individual peculiarity, an irregular ankylosis may take place 

 between two or more of them. 1 



FIG. 15. Section through middle line of united cervical vertebra; of Greenland Right 

 Whale (Balcena inysticctus), J. particular surface for occipital condyle ; e epi 

 physis on posterior end of body of seventh cervical vertebra : sn foramen in arch 

 of atlas for first spinal nerve ; i arch of atlas ; 2 3 4 5 6 conjoined arches of the 

 a.\is and four following vertebra; ; 7 arch of seventh vertebra. 



In the common large Fin Whale of our coasts (//. 

 musculns) the atlas (Fig. 16) has short, stout, conical, imper- 

 forate transverse processes. The axis (Fig. 17) has a broad 

 oval body, high massive arch, very short odontoid process, 

 and very wide, oblong wing-like transverse processes directed 

 somewhat backwards, and with an oval perforation near the 



1 Sec Professor Struthers ' 

 Articulations in Fin Whales." 

 November 1872.) 



On the Cervical Vertebra: and their 

 (Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 



