22 



dolphin tribe. These spinous apophyses at first increase to the 

 centre of the lumbar vertebrae, and then begin to decrease in 

 size. 



The transverse apophyses of the vertebrae are at first merely 

 simple tubercles of the articular processes, and they do not 

 assume the form of distinct apophyses until the three or four last 

 dorsal vertebrae. They then increase in size, until the two or 

 three last lumbars, when they continue diminishing to the tail. 



The under side of all the vertebrae after the fourth lumbar is 

 strongly carinated. 



The caudal vertebrae are twenty-four in nua^bcr, and may be 

 divided into two sets. The first thirteen have upright spinous 

 processes, gradually diminishing in size, and disappearing with 

 the lateral transverse apophyses. These thirteen vertebrae have 

 attached to them twelve long inferior bifid processes,* called V 

 bones, each nearly perpendicular to the vertebral axis, and articu- 

 lated, or at least, connected by strong cartilage with the bodies 

 of two consecutive vertebrae. The third of these V bones is the 

 longest, being one foot four inches long ; but the first and last are 

 only four inches each. While the fore part of the spine is, as above 

 described, made strong by having the consecutive dorsal vertebrae 

 locked into each other, so that the hinder part of the vertical 

 apophyse of one is received, as it were, into the anterior bifurca- 

 tion of the same apophyse in the following vertebra ; the root 

 of the tail, which requires more flexibility and power of motion 

 from side to side, has equal strength given to it by the manner in 

 which every two consecutive vertebrae of the first thirteen caudals 

 are bound by tough cartilage to the twelve connecting V bones.f 

 The twenty-seventh and three following vertebrae have their 

 transverse apophyses perforated at the sides for the passage of 



* The first of these V bones is truly bifid in our Botany whale, and the 

 arms are of unequal length, but in the Sydney whale this V bone is not 

 bifid, but only a subconical ])rocess. Is this a difference of sex or of 

 species ? Or, are our two animals varieties of one species ? 



t Beale's Yorkshire skeleton has, according to him, only ten V bones, 

 another proof the species being distinct. Besides, the second V bone is the 

 longest in his whale, whereas the third in our specimen is much the longest. 



