VERTEBRAL COLUMN. 69 



B. 93. Eight dorsal vertebrae of Monitor Lizard (Fur-anus 

 salvator) . A sagittal section has been made of the anterior 

 vertebrae, it shows the joint cavities between the procoelous 

 vertebral bodies. The articulations of the ribs are seen 

 on the posterior vertebrae. 



B. 94. Vertebrae of F. salvator in horizontal longitudinal section, 

 showing the procoelous intervertebral joints. 



B. 95. Vertebrae with portions of ribs attached of Boa constrictor 

 (Python sebce) . A strong common ligament extends along 

 the ventral faces of the bodies. The capsular ligament of 

 the ribs is most strongly developed dorsally and ventrally, 

 anteriorly the joint-cavity is bounded by a plate of yellow 

 elastic fibrous tissue. 



Rochebrune, Jour, de 1'Anat. et Physiol., t. xvii. 1881, 

 p. 185. 



B. 96. A longitudinal and transverse section of the bodies of 

 the vertebrae of a large Serpent (Python tigris), exhibiting 

 the forms of their articular surfaces, 0. C. 250 C. 



B. 97. Left half of a portion of the vertebral column of a Boa 

 (Python tigris), the ribs being left attached. 0. C. 250 B. 



B. 98. Two cervical vertebrae and one dorsal of a Crocodile 

 (C. acutus) showing, in end view, the structure of the 

 intervertebral joint. 



Between each pair of centra there is a fibre-cartilaginous 

 intervertebral disc, that, owing to the procoelous character 

 of the joint, has the form of an obtuse hollow cone. 



Along the outer margin of the disc there is a strong 

 fibrous band united superficially to the outer ligament but 

 free towards the disc, except at a point on either side. This 

 disc is the homologue of an intercentrum (basi-ventrals) . 



A blue rod has been inserted in each specimen between 

 the fibrous band and the disc. 



Gegenbaur, Jena. Zeitschr., Bd. iii. 1867, p. 400. 



B. 99. Two dorsal vertebrae of a Crocodile (C. acutus) from 

 which the spines and dorsal arches have been removed to 



