298 THE SKELETON OF THE RABBIT. 



c. The remaining cervical vertebrae : third to seventh, 

 i. The centra are short, broad from side to side, 

 thin from above downwards, and obliquely 

 truncated at the ends. The centrum of the 

 seventh vertebra bears at its posterior end a 

 pair of facets, which form parts of the arti- 

 cular surfaces for the heads of the first pair 

 of thoracic ribs, 

 ii. The neural spines are small, excepting that of 



the seventh vertebra, 

 iii. The transverse processes are composed of ribs 

 fused with the vertebra. They are perforated 

 at their bases by the vertebrarterial canals : 

 beyond these they divide into dorsal and 

 ventral portions, of which the latter, the 

 inferior lamellae, form prominent bony plates, 

 except in the seventh vertebra, from which 

 they are absent, 

 iv. The zygapophyses are borne on the sides of the 

 neural arches ; the anterior facing upwards 

 and inwards, the posterior downwards and 

 slightly outwards. 

 3. The thoracic vertebrae. 



. These are usually twelve, sometimes thirteen, in 

 number, and are characterised by bearing movably 

 articulated ribs. The neural spines are long, 

 especially in front : that of the tenth or anticlinal 

 vertebra is nearly vertical, those in front of it 

 sloping backwards, and those behind forwards. 

 The posterior two or three thoracic vertebrae are 

 larger than the others, and gradually approach the 

 lumbar vertebrae in size and shape. 



a. A typical thoracic vertebra : any one of the first 



six. 



i. The centrum is short, and thick from above 



downwards. On each side in front is a small 



facet, which, with a similar one on the hinder 



