Prof. Eschricht on the Ganyetic Dolphin. 187 



form of longitudinal crests, one being placed above, the other be- 

 low the transverse processes. The upper series commences on 

 the 5th caudal vertebra close above and behind the transverse 

 process ; it reaches higher up on the succeeding vertebrae, occu- 

 pying their entire bodies, but becoming more and more deeply 

 excavated for the arterial canal. The lower series commences in 

 like manner on the 5th caudal vertebra, in the form of a termi- 

 nating knob on the lower part of each canal, before and behind; 

 but it gradually assumes, as it extends backwards, the shape of 

 open arcs ; and from the 12th, finally, of closed bridges. 



Finally, the last eleven caudal vertebrae are of a cubical 

 form, compressed backwards ; each margin separating the four 

 externally visible sides being distinguished by a round knob, 

 which is nothing else than the said caudal processes. In lieu of 

 the transversal processes, the side-surfaces are excavated ; and 

 on the four terminal vertebrae of the tail reappears again the ves- 

 tige of a rounded transverse process, produced by the coalescence 

 of the upper and lower caudal processes. The upper and lower 

 surfaces are deeply excavated in the shape of a cross, longer from 

 side to side, in consequence of the compressed figure of the ver- 

 tebra being externally perforated for the arterial canal, which 

 here traverses the whole side of the body of the vertebra. 



Out of the eleven pairs of ribs the first four belong to the so- 

 called true ribs. The eight foremost are attached between two 

 thoracic vertebrae ; the first between the last cervical and the first 

 thoracic (PL VII. fig. -4 b, c), and anteriorly by a rather long carti- 

 lage to the excavated margin of the very large manubrium sterni. 

 Since each of the seven following pairs is placed between two 

 thoracic vertebrae, it has on each side a corresponding articula- 

 ting surface. Only the three hindmost are seated on the trans- 

 verse processes only. The lower or ventral extremity of the se- 

 cond pair is inserted by its long cartilage between the manu- 

 brium and the disproportionally small body of the sternum, 

 which consists of two long side-pieces (that on the left side only 

 half the size of the other) ; the third pair is attached between the 

 body and the xiphoid, wholly cartilaginous process ; and lastly, 

 the fourth to each side of the posterior margin of that process. 

 The lower end of all the succeeding seven pairs continues car- 

 tilaginous, and appears to lie loose in the flesh. 



The shoulder-blade of our dolphin, Cuvier describes in these 

 words : — " I/omoplate est beaucoup plus large qu'au dauphin " 

 (D. delphis) . " Son bord spinal est presque le double de sa 

 hauteur. Son bord anterieur est simple" (wanting the fossa 

 supraspinata) "et donne une apophyse, coupee obliquement, 

 qui est l'acroraion, et tout pres de la face articulaire un petit 

 tubcrcule a peine sensible, seul vestige de bee coracoide." 



