FAUNA OF THE GOSAU FORMATION. 



645 



which were divided from each other, and looked obliquely outward 

 and downward so as to form with each other an angle which was 

 much less than a right angle. The neural spine is compressed from 

 side to side, and originates from a base about ljL- inch long. The 

 angle enclosed superiorly by the diverging transverse processes is 

 more than a right angle. The neural canal is subquadrate in front, 

 and about inch wide. Posteriorly its height becomes lj- -, and 

 its width about j 6 ^- inch. The neural arch has the aspect of being 

 placed vertically on the centrum rather towards its anterior 

 part. 



In the other dorsal vertebra the height from the base of the neural 

 arch to the top of the neural spine is 3 T 7 jy inches. The neural spine 

 is greatly compressed from side to side, rises about 1| inch above the 

 platform of the transverse processes, is T 2 - inch in its greatest poste- 

 rior thickness, has an antero-posterior measurement of 1^ inch, 

 and swells out at its free end to a width of more than J inch. This 

 inflated mass is convex from side to side, and tapers forward in a 

 wedge. The platforms of the transverse processes, which are flat 

 above and triangular in section, are given out horizontally ; the one 

 preserved measures 2^ inches from the median line to its free end, 

 which is compressed from above downward, and is rounded from 

 back to front. The base of this process occupied the whole space 

 between the posterior and anterior zygapophyses. Its anterior 

 margin is slightly concave, and terminates in a sharp thin edge. 

 The posterior side is similarly thin ; but its hinder part is somewhat 

 broken. The width towards the free end is 1| inch. On the under- 

 side is the usual strong median buttress compressed from side to 

 side, and terminating forward in an ovate articular facet for the 

 rib, which is 1 inch long, looks downward and is placed towards 

 the anterior margin ; while it terminates inward abruptly on the 

 neural arch above in a nearly circular facet, which is large, vertical, 

 slightly concave, and gave attachment to the head of the rib ; half 

 the facet is above the neural canal. There is the usual superior 

 concave excavation in front, behind the zygapophyses, while poste- 

 riorly the concavity which runs along the posterior side of the 

 transverse process below terminates in an enlarged excavation ; 

 and these excavations approximate so as to be separated only by a 

 sharp vertical ridge which is placed above the neural canal, with which 

 its outline helps to form an S-shaped curve on the right posterior 

 aspect. The zygapophyses present no peculiarities, the facets being 

 flat and oblique ; the anterior excavation between the transverse pro- 

 cesses in front is small; and the interspace between the two facets for 

 the rib on the sides of the neural arch is about 1| inch. What 

 remains of the posterior face of the centrum appears to be slightly 

 concave from side to side, and slightly convex from above down- 

 ward, though this condition has probably resulted from compression. 

 There is here no sharp line dividing the neural arch from the cen- 

 trum, though the separation can be easily traced, and it is at the 

 middle point of the suture that the compression is greatest ; there 

 the transverse measurement is less than 1 inch. The lower portion 



