Adams — On a Fossil Saurian Vertebra. 179 



dilia, and also the traces of the neui'O-central suture, so generally present 

 in this order, are, Tinfoiiunately, as regards the tubercula and capi- 

 tula, undeterminable, from injuries to the outer shell ; a ca'ack, how- 

 eyer, in the situation of the neiu-o-eentral sutui'e may indicate the line 

 of junction. 



The _/;;'e-zygapophysis (fig. A), is produced with a deep mter zyga- 

 pophysial pit (figs. B and D). The articulating surface is oval and 

 plane, and the angle of inclination bet'svcen it and the other is 50° : 

 a still "wider and deeper cleft interrenes between the posterior zyga- 

 pophyses fig. (C). Both of the pits indicate powerful nuchal liga- 

 ments. 



The base of the neural spine is compressed, and presents a hollow 

 on either side (figs. A and B), with prorainent lidges, which go to 

 form the outer border of the ^;o.sf-zygapophyses. The latter are nearly 

 horizontal (fig. C). In all these characters — to wit, the hollow at the 

 base of the spine, zygapophysial ridge and posterior articular siuiace — 

 it seems to agree with Lacertilia rather than Crocodilia. The cerrical 

 neural spine in Crocodilia is lengthened, and tapers towards a blunt 

 point ; whereas in Lacertilia it is shorter and broader in the antero- 

 posterior direction, which, judging fr'om the extent of the fractured 

 surface (fig. B), was apparently the case also in the fossil. The 

 neural canal is small and oval. Further there do not appear to me any 

 points worthy of record. 



I conceive that the bone may in all probability have been one of 

 the middle cervicals of a Saurian, with bi-concave vertebrae. Com- 

 pared with recent and fossil species of Eeptilia, the above represents 

 an animal between ten and twelve feet in length. Seemingly 

 remarkable contrasts between the above and cervical vertebrae of Teleo- 

 sauiTis and other mcsozoic crocodiles are in the produced jyre-zygapo- 

 physis, sub-oval centram, and the small size of the latter, as compared 

 with the rest of the bone — to wit, height of the arches and massive 

 ligamentous and zygapophysial attachments of this Arctic fossil, which 

 would appear, moreover, to represent a considerably smaller species than 

 either Teleosauriis Irevidens, T. cadomensis, or T. lululidem. The charac- 

 ters being narrowed to a few points in connexion with a single imper- 

 fect vertebra, I feel that it would be impossible to establish reliable 

 comparisons between it and fossil genera of the Alesozoic formations. 



It is to be regretted that, owing to the untimely death of Admiral 

 Osbom, I have been unable to obtain fiulher evidence as to its histoiy, 

 Admitthig, however, its Arctic origin, as given by the late eminent 

 palseontologist !Mr. Salter, I propose for it the provisional name of 

 Ardomv.rm Oshorni, in respect for the memory of this distinguished 

 traveller, and in hopes that the natiu'alists of the expedition now about 

 proceeding to the Arctic Eegions will be enabled to verify these few 

 data by fresh discoveries of a similar description. 



