64 



CAUDAL VERTEBRM. 



[CHAM 



neural arch diminishes and finally disappears, leaving for a 

 while a pair of processes at each extremity of the vertebra, 

 the remains of the parts of the arch which bore the zygapo- 

 physes ; the transverse process is much reduced, and con- 

 fined to the posterior extremity of the body, a second one 

 appearing at the anterior extremity. Even these rudiments 

 of processes gradually cease to be perceptible, and nothing 

 is left but a cylindrical rod of bone, representing the centrum 

 alone of the vertebra. These diminish in size towards the 

 apex of the tail, the last being usually a mere rounded nodule. 



Fig. 27. — Anterior surface of twelfth 

 caudal vertebra of Leopard, £. in 

 metapophysis : / processes serially 

 continuous with those which support 

 the posterior zygapophyses in the an- 

 terior vertebrae ; k hypapophyses The 

 process on the side of the body be- 

 tween m and h is the anterior trans- 

 verse process. 



Fig. 28.— Upper surface of twelfth caudal 

 vertebra of" Leopard, {J. m metapo- 

 physes ; / processes serially continuous 

 with those which support the posterior 

 zygapophyses in the anterior vertebra:. 

 / transverse process ; t' anterior traus- 

 verse process. 



Connected with the under-surface of the caudal vertebrae 

 of many animals which have the tail well developed, are 

 certain bones, formed more or less in the form of an in- 

 verted arch (Fig. 29), called chevron bones (French, Os en V; 

 German, Unterbogen; hcem apophyses, Owen). These are 

 always situated nearly opposite to an intervertebral space, and 

 are generally articulated both to the vertebra in front and the 



