TESTUDO ABINGDONII. 87 
Cervical Vertebrae. — Of the specimen of which the carapace measures 38 inches in 
length, and the skull 4f inches, the cervical vertebrse (with the exception of the first) 
have been preserved ; in their natural connexion they measure 25 inches, which gives 
an idea of the slenderness of the neck. They exceed in slenderness those of all the 
other Galapagos Tortoises as far as we know them at present, and as will be seen from 
the list of measurements subsequently given. They are of extraordinary lightness com- 
pared with their size and length, perfectly normal, and not diseased, as Commander 
CooKSON believed on his first inspection of the animal after its death [l. c. p. 521). 
In the second vertebra (Plate XLVIII. figs. A) the neural arch is compressed and 
elevated, and provided with a neural crest, the anterior summit of which is expanded. 
The third (Plate XLVIII. figs. B) has a condyle in front, and glenoid cavity behind ; its 
neural crest is low, and split into three ridges ; haemal crest well developed. The 
fourth (Plate XLVIII. figs. C) is biconvex, much longer than the third, with low crests. 
The Jifth (Plate XLIX. figs. D) has a glenoid cavity in front and a condyle behind, and 
is bulkier, but scarcely longer than the fourth ; on its neural aspect it presents a pair of 
sharp low ridges, confluent in front and divergent towards the posterior zygapophyses, 
the median line being provided with another still lower ridge ; haemal crest very low. 
The sixth (Plate XLIX. figs. E) is about as long and bulky as the fifth, and has a 
glenoid cavity in front and a condyle behind, both the glenoid cavity and the condyle 
showing indications of a bipartition. The neural arch is compressed, with a pair of very 
low, parallel, close ridges arising from the roots of the zygapophyses, and disappearing 
towards the middle of the bone. The haemal surface has a higher crest than any of tlie 
preceding vertebrae. The seventh vertebra (Plate L. figs. F) has a glenoid cavity in front 
and behind, and the bipartition of the posterior is nearly complete ; the neural crest is 
very high, and split into two branches diverging backwards in the direction of the 
zygapophyses, and leaving a deep triangular recess between them ; as in T. vicina, the 
summit of this crest is split into two prominences, separated from each other by a deep 
notch. Whilst in the four preceding vertebrae the neural arch is deeply hollowed out 
inwards of and behind each anterior zygapophysis, this place is rather convex in the 
seventh vertebra of this species. The haemal crest is as developed as in the preceding 
vertebra, but higher. The eighth vertebra (Plate L. figs. G), with its bipartite anterior 
and single posterior condyle, and with its expanded hamate posterior zygapophyses, does 
not essentially differ from that of the other species; but all the grooves and impressions 
are still more strongly marked. 
The following Table will show the measurements of these vertebrae compared with 
those of T. elejjhantojjus and T. vicina : — 
