1876.] DR. J. V. HAAST ON ZIPHIUS NOV^E-ZEALANDIiE. 473 



they diminish again slightly. They are compressed as usual, and 

 hroader at the apex, which has a truncate form, as if they were 

 cut off. 



The metapophysis on the anterior end of the arch is similar in form 

 to that of the last thoracic vertebra, but a little larger in the first 

 four vertebrae, its apex having moreover a still more truncated edge. 

 Beginning with the fifth vertebra this process gets gradually smaller, 

 assuming at the same time a more rounded form. They all possess 

 on their inferior surface a median keel, which is most pronounced on 

 the 5th, 6th and 7th vertebras, after which, getting shallower by 

 degrees, it nearly runs out on the last. 



The lower transverse process is throughout of the same form and 

 size, having a horizontal aud a little forward direction. 



The caudal vertebra are 19 in number, of which the first 10 have 

 chevron bones attached to them on the posterior border of the lower 

 surface, thus forming as usual two distinct classes. 



The bodies of the caudal vertebra shorten from 7' 51 inches to 

 the tenth, which is only 3*78 inches long, although their height is 

 the same. 



From the 1st to the 13th a broad shallow groove runs along their 

 lower surface, after which they have a deep lateral excavation. 



The spines are also gradually reduced in height to the tenth, in 

 which the same is only 1*50 inch high. They continue, however, 

 to possess the same truncated apex, with a downward slope from front 

 to back, getting at their starting-point from the arch gradually larger, 

 that on the 4th caudal vertebra being here the largest of the whole 

 series of vertebrae. 



The metapophyses also gradually diminish, and assume, instead of 

 the former flattened form, now a stouter appearance with a more out- 

 ward direction of the point. 



The same diminution in size is observable in the lower transverse 

 process, which on the 8rh caudal vertebra forms only a very small 

 ridge, but has entirely disappeared on the 9th. The 10th vertebra is 

 very much laterally compressed; the 11th assumes a rounded form, 

 which becomes more square in the 1 2th, after which the rest have a 

 nearly quadrangular form to the last. 



The last caudal vertebrae, beginning with the 10th, have a well-ex- 

 cavated channel running along both sides of the vertebrae. I may here 

 observe that the last chevron bone, as well as the 17th and 19th 

 vertebrae, are missing. 



Ribs. 



There are nine ribs on each side, of which seven possess two arti- 

 culating processes. The first, which is the shortest of the whole series, 

 is also the broadest. It is thick and flattened throughout. It arti- 

 culates by a distinct capitular process with the body of the seventh 

 cervical vertebra, and above by an excavated articular surface with the 

 transverse process of the first thoracic vertebra. 



From the second to the sixth, the ribs gradually lengthen, the sixth 

 being the longest, after which they decrease again. The second has 



