148 
REPTILES OF THE CHALK. 
pressed, and occupies the anterior four fifths of the 
body of the vertebra. 
Tlie specimen fig. 1. contains two vertebras arti- 
culated to each other. They are shorter than the 
one above described, and each has an inferior apo- 
physis. In their general characters, they resemble 
the vertebrm delineated in PI. 7* and 8. of Faujas: 
their bodies are compressed, and their length and 
height nearly equal ; their faces are elliptical in a 
vertical direction, the transverse diameter being 
1*1 inch, and the longitudinal 1*5 inch. The dor- 
sal apophyses are narrower than in the preceding 
example. The inferior apophysis is strong, and 
rounded at the base, and suddenly contracts into a 
spinous process, which, when entire, was probably 
several inches in length. As this appendage is 
placed rather laterally, it was suspected that an- 
other might exist on the opposite side, and that the 
union of the two would form a triangular bone, 
corresponding to the os en chevron of the croco- 
dile, and other animals of the lizard tribe. To 
ascertain this point, the chalk was removed so far 
as was practicable, but not the slightest trace of 
another process could be discovered. This circum- 
stance was extremely embarrassing ; and the diffi- 
culty of explaining it was increased, upon perceiving 
that the apophyses in question were perfectly anchy- 
losed to the bodies of the vertebrae, and not united 
by suture, as in the recent lacertae. A careful perusal 
of Cuvier’s observations on the osteological charac- 
ters of the monitor of Maestricht enabled me, how- 
ever, to explain this apparent want of agreement, in 
