268 ORGANIC REMAINS. 



observed, and particularly in the vertebrae. Figures 4, 5, and 6, PI. 

 XVI, shew different kinds of vertebrae that occur. No. 4 is a bent 

 piece of spine of the most common vertebrae, deeply cupped, and re- 

 sembling those of the shark. Their thickness at the edge is only about 

 half their diameter. No. 6 is a specimen of vertebrae much more ob- 

 long; their thickness, or length, being somewhat greater than their 

 diameter. The vertebrae of the Whitby animal of 1758, appear to 

 have been nearly of the same form and size, as far as we can judge 

 from the imperfect drawing and description of them. Yet the ribs in 

 No. 6 have been so much stronger than those of the common proteo- 

 saurus, and have been attached to the bases of the spinous processes 

 in a manner so peculiar, that we doubt whether they can be assigned 

 to an animal of this genus. The vertebras, No. 5, can hardly belong 

 to the proteosaurus ; for their spinous as well as lateral processes 

 are parts of the vertebrae, and not separate bones ; and the spinous 

 processes ( which are mutilated in the specimen) are winged, as in 

 quadrupeds, having oblique processes diverging from their bases. 

 Besides, the canal for the spinal marrow is much larger than in the 

 proteosaurus, and on the opposite side of the spine there is a flat or 

 depressed space in each vertebra, marked with two holes. The length 

 or thickness of each vertebra is less than its diameter; but the joints, 

 instead of shewing deep cups, are nearly in the ball and socket form, 

 to which also those of No. 6 approximate. No. 5, if not also No. 6, 

 may therefore be assigned to some cetaceous animal, or perhaps to 

 an animal of our next and last division. 



QUADRUPEDS. 



That the vertebrae, Fig. 5, PI, XVI, may belong to a quadruped, 

 is rendered probable from the discovery of a large scapular bone, 

 together with an os innominatum, which could scarcely belong to a 



