Hector. — On the Fossil Eejjtilia of New Zealand. 349 



The quadrate cLaractev of the radius and carpal bones, and the grouping of 

 the digits into three radial and two ulnar, indicates a difference from the 

 ordinary Plesiosauroid. 



The digits, however, are distinct, the phalanges being subcylindrical, 

 compressed in the middle, and Avith distinct terminal articular surfaces. The 

 proximal phalanges are 2 '7 inches in length, and the 5th row are 2 inches. 



As the smallest phalanges which have been obtained^l inch in length by 

 •25 inch in diameter — still have articular surfaces and a constricted form, the 

 digits must have been enormously prolonged to produce such attenuation. The 

 total length of the paddle was probably not less than 5 feet. 



No. 8 6 is a slab got by Mr. H. H. Travers from the Amuri Bluff, in 

 which were obtained, in addition to paddle bones and two cervical vertebrae, 

 several rib fragments, which show that the rib had a wide, expanded, articular 

 capitulum, which was apparently convex. The rib is rather sharply bent, with 

 a thin inner edge, and a flattened, channelled surface, the cross section being 

 a constricted oval. 



No. 8 c. — Anterior dorsal vertebra, also collected at the Amuri Bluff by 

 Mr. H. H. Travers, is a very finely-preserved specimen that has been worked 

 out successfully from a hard matrix. 



Centrum nearly circular, each vertebral diameter nearly equal to height, 

 constricted one-fifth of the full transverse diameter at the middle part of the 

 bone, where it is also compressed inferiorly. Articular facets very slightly 

 concave, with central pit, on a raised tumid tubercle. Neural canal small, 

 one-fifth the diameter of articular facets. No neural suture, the neural arch being 

 simply a reflection of the lateral surface of the centrum, rising in the middle 

 and supporting a large diapophysis, then springing from two ridges that bound 

 a wide, shallow, smooth depression. The base of the diapophysis is trihedral. 

 The upper surface is horizontal, and the lower, which is vertical to the centrum, 

 is oblique, and excavated by a groove. 



This process is expanded at the tip, with a slightly convex articular facet 

 for the rib attachment. The length of the process is nearly equal to the 

 height of the centrum. 



The prsezygapophj'ses are one-fifth the height of centrum in length, and 

 one-eighth in width ; being very feeble in proportion to the size of the bones. 

 Their convex articular surface is deeply emarginate. 



Post-zygapophyses are broken off. Neural spine equal to half vertical 

 diameter of the centrum in length at base, and one-fifth the same in width. 



The full height of the vertebral segment is 9 inches, or nearly twice the 

 vertical diameter. Inferior surface has a bold mesial ridge separating venous 

 foramina one inch apart. 



