1864.] STRANDED ON THE NORFOLK COAST. 255 
_ differing in some particulars from what is seen in the present speci- 
men. Eschricht mentions the union of the second and third vertebree 
~ as an exceptional occurrence, being seen in two only out of many spe- 
cimens examined ; and the union of the upper and lower transverse 
processes into a ring (not found in the specimen described by Dr. 
Gray) he observed in three young specimens from Greenland, but 
never in any, even quite adult, examples from the European coasts. 
In the Hunterian skeleton of an immature female, taken on the 
Dogger bank, and now in the Museum of the Royal College of Sur- 
geons, all the transverse processes are separate, even those of the axis 
are not quite united at their extremities, and all the vertebre are free. 
The present skeleton differs from any other previously described, in 
having the ¢hird and fourth cervical vertebrz firmly united together 
by the contiguous edges of their neural arches, all the others being 
separate. 
The general direction of the largely developed transverse processes 
in the cervical region present in a marked degree the peculiarities 
seen in the other Fin-Whales. While that of the atlas stands out 
and turns slightly forwards, those of the remaining cervical and first 
dorsal converge and almost meet together at a point on a level with 
the body of the fifth vertebra, the anterior ones being directed back- 
wards, and the posterior forwards. The processes of the second cer- 
vical and first dorsal considerably exceed all the intermediate ones 
in length and strength. 
The atlas is a strong, massive bone, measuring 123" between the 
extremities of the transverse processes, 73" from the inferior edge of 
the body to the tip of the spine, and 2+" in the thickness of the 
lower edge of its body. The two concave, oval, articular surfaces 
for the condyles are-almost continuous below, though separated bya 
wide interval above. The neural canal forms an irregular triangle 
with the base turned upwards. The posterior surface presents two 
somewhat kidney-shaped irregularly convex surfaces for articulation 
with the axis. The lamine are broad and tolerably strong, with 
sharp edges, and terminated above by a short, compressed, and 
rounded spine, directed backwards. At its junction with the body, 
immediately behind the condylar articular surfaces, the arch is per- 
forated on each side near its anterior edge by a circular foramen 0!-3 
in diameter, running from without inwards and upwards. The trans- 
verse processes, arising from the sides of the body, are broad and 
stout, of moderate length, truncated at their extremities, directed 
slightly forwards, and obliquely flattened, so that one surface looks 
upwards and backwards and the other downwards and forwards. 
The body of the axis is about 1} in thickness, elongated from 
side to side, with two concave kidney-shaped articular surfaces in 
front, between which is a roughened surface, the posterior and broader 
half of which rises into a low tuberosity, the only representative of 
an odontoid process. On the summit of this tuberosity is a small 
deep oval fossa 0'-3 long. The hinder surface of the body presents 
a single concave transversely elongated articular surface for the suc- 
ceeding vertebra. The neural arch is strong, and roughened by 
