542 MR. W. H. FLOWER ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF THE SPERM-WHALE. 
trom the fore part of the spine, altogether above the junction of the lamin at the roof 
of the neural arch, and their upper margin is 11” above the top of the body. There 
are not any corresponding processes on the hinder edge of the spine, as in Platanista. 
The Caudal Vertebre are twenty-four in number, of which twelve or more appear, by 
the form of their inferior surfaces, to have supported chevron bones, although but ten 
of these bones were sent with the skeleton. 
As is usual in this extensive region, the characters of the different vertebre vary 
greatly. The first differs but slightly from the last lumbar vertebra. The centrum is 
more regularly circular when seen from the end, but rather higher than broad, the keel 
is no longer distinct, the sides are less hollowed, and on the hinder edge of the under 
surface are two distinct articular facets for the first chevron bones. ‘The transverse 
processes are short, horizontal, and rounded at the ends, as in the lumbar region; the 
spinous process is slightly shorter, the metapophyses higher upon it, and the neural 
canal more contracted. ‘The body of this vertebra is slightly larger than that of the 
last lumbar. In the succeeding seven there is very little change in respect to size; after- 
wards the diminution is more rapid. The reduction in the size of the centrum of the 
thirteenth as compared with the twelfth, and of the fourteenth as compared with the 
thirteenth, is so extraordinary that, unless there were abundant evidence to the con- 
trary, one might be tempted to suppose that several vertebrae had been lost from each 
interval. The fifteenth, again, is considerably smaller than its predecessor. Then follow 
two of almost. equal size, after which a gradual and steady reduction takes place down to 
the terminal vertebra. 
Fig. 10. 
Fourth caudal vertebra, without the epiphysis. 
The great irregularity in the diminution of the caudal vertebra will be best appre. 
ciated by a reference to the table of the weights of the different members of the series 
given at p. 328. 
