258 THE BATH OOLITE PERIOD. CHAP. 



there is great difficulty in so placing them as to acquire a just 

 notion of the structure, or to present a satisfactory drawing. In 

 some degree it must have approached that of hylaeosaurus. 



Next to be noticed is the fine series of caudal vertebra belonging 

 to the large animal of Kirtlington Station. These are in number 

 twenty-seven, besides some fragments not capable of being placed 

 in order. Several of these have the neurapophyses, neural spine, 

 and zygapophyses (seldom, however, perfect) still attached, and thus 

 give means of comparison with crocodilian and other vertebrae in 

 a characteristic part of the structure. The articulating faces are 

 concave, the anterior often most so, or else concave in front, and 

 plane behind. 



Some of the largest are crushed, so as not to be fit for drawing. 



Taking them in their probable order, we find the following 

 examples. The first, only four inches from back to front, is 9-5 

 in height to the borders of the canal, 9-0 to the canal, and 8-5 in 

 breadth. It is an extraordinary bone, having the transverse 

 process occupying for its base a great part of the height of the 

 side, and expanding outwards like a frill to a width between its 

 broken edges of 13*5 inches; it must have reached 16 to 18 inches 

 when perfect. Both ends of the body are pretty equally concave. 

 No haemapophysial cicatrices. 



The next, as I suppose, is of the same diameters, and 4/5 inches 

 long. The anterior side is most concave. The interspace above 

 the neural canal is reduced to three inches. The lateral spine has 

 a large basis. The haemapophysial scars are slight. The an- 

 terior zygapophysis bends forward, its separate elements inclined 

 about 60. 



Another follows, perhaps immediately, 8 inches across, 5 inches 

 long, with strong lateral processes and more marked haemapo- 

 physes. The anterior surface is concave, the posterior plane. 



After this the vertebrae which follow become longer, and concave 

 on both terminal faces, and the hsemapophyses are indicated by 

 broad cicatrices, always most deep and extensive on ^the posterior 

 edges. 



One of these vertebrae (anterior caudal) , which is uncrushed and 

 contains the diapophysial processes, is represented on the next page. 

 Its dimensions are length between articulating faces, 5*5 inches ; 

 breadth of the faces, 7 '5 ; height, 7'O ; interval between the ex- 



