156 INSECTIVORA. 



of metapophyses. The zygapopliyses are well developed. The hypapophysis of the 

 atlas is more or less bifurcate and well developed, but in the axis this process is very 

 small. In the third cervical it is large and triangular, and nearly twice as great as 

 in the succeeding vertebrae, beyond which it rapidly decreases, but can be traced as 

 far backwards as the second dorsal, where it is resolved into two rudimentary 

 eminences on the posterior margin of the centrum. Hypapophysial ossicles occur 

 between the twelfth and thirteenth dorsal and succeeding vertebrae, as far as the 

 last dorsal and first lumbar vertebrae. A strong hypapophysial ridge is developed 

 on the second and third sacral vertebrae, dividing the very much contracted pelvic 

 orifice into two. The caudal vertebrae, nine in number, are very simple, being 

 rather long, cylindrical ossicles, with rudiments of metapophyses. There are well 

 developed haemapophyses between the first and second and the other caudal vertebrae. 

 Without separating the much contracted pelvis which is so compressed on the 

 sacral vertebrae that they cannot be observed with precision, there appear to be 

 four of these vertebral elements united together with one vertebra anterior to 

 them free, but applied by very short transverse processes to the side of the ihum. 

 The spinous processes of the sacral vertehrce form a low compressed ridge which 

 is posteriorly firmly soldered to the ischia, but anterior to this attachment and 

 internal to the acetabulae there is a very narrow, elongated, sacro-sciatic foramen. 

 The united spinous ridge bears two tubercular processes on its side, in a position 

 corresponding to the line of union of the vertebrae, and they appear to be homo- 

 logous with the hyperapophyses of the lumbar vertebrae. 



The ribs are fifteen in number. The first rib is short and thick, and a small 

 epiphysial ossicle occurs between it and its rather compactly ossified, sternal portion, 

 which rapidly dilates to be attached to the whole of the side of the expanded 

 portion of the presternum, and is deeply concave on its external surface. Eight ribs 

 are attached to the sternum, the sternal portion of the seventh being directly applied 

 to the side of the last third of the terminal mesosternal segment, while the broad 

 sternal end of the eighth is also applied to it and to the anterior extremity of the 

 xiphisternum. All the sternal ribs are ossified, and the low^er halves of those that 

 do not directly join the sternum overlap each other to a remarkable degree, that of 

 the ninth overlying the middle of the sternal half of the eighth, that of the tenth 

 over the same section of the ninth, while in the four succeeding ribs the sternal 

 halves of their ossified cartilages cross over the corresponding halves of two ribs in 

 front of them, so that the distal third of a cartilage lies along the upper margin of 

 the cartilage of the rib in front of it, not below it. This arrangement must confer 

 great respiratory power on the animal. The cartilage of the fifteenth rib only is 

 unossified. The thoracic cavity is pyramidal, narrow above and much expanded 

 below, a circumstance which would also confer great respiratory power. 



The presternum is somewhat T-shaped with an obscure trace of a ridge which 

 is the continuation of its much compressed stalk, which has in fact the appearance 

 of a narrow rod, but when viewed sideways has considerable antero-posterior exten- 

 sion. There is a slight concavity on either side of the ridge. The first mesosternal 



