100 PEOF. HOWES ON SYNOSTOSIS IN TISHES. [Feb. 6, 



faces of those which bound these. That the muscular rather than 

 the skeletal system has been, as it were, at fault, is largely proved 

 by the fact that there is no marked falling off in either the bulk 

 or density of the latter where disturbance occurs ; and the most 

 logical conception of the determining cause seems to me that of 

 an inequaUty of development, either in bulk or elasticity (and pro- 

 bably the latter), of certain muscles — those aifected having either, 

 as it were, lagged behind the skeleton or become fixed in a state of 

 tonic contraction. If this be so, while approximation of the parts 

 of the vertebral column stands out as the ultimate result of the 

 disturbance, we may conveniently at least distinguish between the 

 sinuous condition or approximation by plecospondyhj ^ (figs. 1 

 and 3), and the compressed one or approximation by sympieso- 

 sjpoiulyly - (figs. 5 and 6). 



The specimen last described is of interest in another connexion. 

 Cunningham, in his monograph on the Sole (he. cit. p. 39), gives 

 50 as the total number of vertebrae present, and points out that 

 the first one " is rudimentary" and possessed of " two small dorsal 

 processes which lie along the fi-ont edge of the base of the dorsal 

 processes of the second vertebra, but do not unite to form a spine." 

 There can be little doubt that these " dorsal processes " of the 

 first vertebra are but a partially developed pair of neural arches — 

 in the specimen uuder consideration they are reduced to absolute 

 insignificance (fig. 4 h). This greater simplification of the first 

 vertebra is the more iaterestiug, as but 4S instead of 50 vertebrae 

 are present, and as the well-defined characters which diagnose the 

 5th and 11th vertebrae of the normal spine are here realized by the 

 4th ' and 10th. 



P.S., March 1, 1S94. — During the passage of these notes 

 through the press, the CoUege of Surgeons' Perch, No. 361 (cf. 

 footnote, p. 9H) has been dissected, thanks to the kindness of Prof. 

 Stewart. The curvature of its backbone is, most interestingly, 

 identical with that of figs. ? a and 3 b, but of greater amplitude, as 

 is expressed externally by a marked elevation of the trunk ce])halad 

 of the first dorsal fin. The Aertebrae which mark its vertices 

 number 7-S, 18, and 30. But 39 free vertebrae are present, and 

 the displacement to the left side involves those numbering 20 to 35. 

 Except for a feeble depression of the mid-dorsal region, the contour 

 of the body is regular, and the arches, intermuscular bones, and 

 associated parts are correspondingly modified. 



' irXecetv, to twist ; <nr6i/SvXos, a vertebra. 

 - avfiTTieZeiv, to squeeze together. 

 •'' In this case on the left side only. 



