AXIAL SKELETON OF THE PELECANIDA. 361 
The TWENTY-FOURTH VERTEBRA (Plate LXI. figs. 6, 7, 8, xx1v) greatly resembles its prede- 
cessor ; but its hypapophysial plate scarcely bifurcates at all preaxially, while its ventral 
margin is more concave antero-posteriorly. It is extremely like the same vertebra of 
Phalacrocorax ; and the non-identity in nature of the Lypapophysial processes of the two 
genera would never be suspected were these two vertebra alone compared without their 
serial predecessors. 
The TWENTY-FIFTH and TWENTY-SIXTH vertebra are successively smaller and smaller, 
and have the hypapophysial plate successively simpler and less developed. 
They differ from the corresponding vertebree of Phalacrocorax in having the hypapo- 
physial process smaller. 
The twenty-sixth vertebra may be devoid of any vertebral rib!; but a sternal rib 
always corresponds with it. 
Tur LumBar VERTEBRA. 
These appear to be constantly four in number, with short parapophysial processes 
ankylosing distally with the ilium, and thus intercepting between them three anterior 
pelvic foramina on each side. These vertebre (the TWENTY-SEVENTH, TWENTY-EIGHTH, 
TWENTY-NINTH, and THIRTIETH) have their centra continuously ossified together and with 
the last two dorsal, and with the lumbo-sacral, sacral, and sacro-caudal vertebre. The 
centra of the lumbar vertebree gradually broaden postaxially ; and though the first has 
a hypapophysial prominence little less than that of the last dorsal, yet the two most 
postaxial have a median, ventral, antero-posterior groove. The parapophyses become 
successively shorter postaxiad. ‘They thus present a general similarity to the lumbar 
vertebrae of Phalacrocorax (Plate LXI. fig. 8). 
Tur LumMBo-sacRAL VERTEBRA. 
Of these there may be two or three; they are the THIRTY-FIRST and THIRTY-SECOND 
VERTEBRA of my specimen, which I have taken as my type. They are generally similar 
to those of Phalacrocorax. 
Tue SAcRAL VERTEBRA. 
There seem to be constantly two of these vertebre (the THIRTY-THIRD and THIRTY- 
FouRTH); but they are less differentiated from the sacro-caudals than is the case in 
Phalacrocorax. Yet the parapophysis does descend decidedly more ventrad than does 
the transverse process in the anterior sacro-caudal vertebre. Moreover, as in Phala- 
crocoraz, the transverse process of at least the more posterior sacral vertebra forms 
one continuous whole—a somewhat, though but slightly, vertically extended plate. 
On the other hand, in the first sacral, the parapophyses may be more or less separated 
from the diapophysis. 
* As in the specimen of Plotus anhinga in the College of Surgeons’ Museum. 
