89 
exception of the first, are displaced, and the only vertebrae not 
affected by the vertical curvature are the anterior six and vertebrae 
20 - 2G, further what should be the vertical plane of the individual 
vertebra is not always truly vertical, but is in many cases an 
inclined plane. The vertical displacement may in some degree 
have been caused by drying. Vertebrae 2, 3, 4, 21, and 22 are 
somewhat compressed on the right side, and vertebrae 1G and 17 on 
the left side. The neural and haemal arches on the outer edge of 
the vertical curves are adpressed, and some of the haemal spines of 
the inner edge of one of these curves are slightly recurved. 
Accompanying the horizontal curvature in the anterior region is a 
difference in the development of some of the transverse processes, 
those of the outer edge of the curve being stouter than the corres- 
ponding processes on the inner edge. In the same region the 
neural spines have not the normal backward inclination but are 
more erect. On comparing the skulls of the two preparations, 
the length from vomer to basi-occipital is the same ; in tlio 
deformed specimen, the length from mesethmoid to supra-occipital 
is less, the parasphenoid is stouter, the width across the parethmoids 
and otic bones is greater, the parotic processes are larger and arc 
unequal in size, the right one being the greater of the two. 
There are no signs of previous fracture, and from the shape of 
the vertebral bodies the deformity has probably been congenital 
(Professor Howse, Proc. Zoo. Soc., 1894, page 95). It may have 
been due to unequal development, as regards bulk and elasticity of 
various muscles (op. cit. pages 99 and 100) or the curvature of the 
spine may have caused the unequal development of the muscles. 
Dr. \\ illiamson in the Twenty-seventh Annual Report of the 
Fishery Board for Scotland, Part III, page 119, mentions Meyer’s 
experiments, in which some herring fry, the development of which 
had been retarded by the influence of cold, had curved backs. It 
is also possible that at a very early age the fish was imprisoned in 
some small space, and although not being able to grow normally, it 
was possible for it to obtain sufficient food, which would give 
growth in strength and size, until the fish was able to free itself. 
That it was able to swim with a fair amount of freedom is shown 
by the fact that it was caught on a hook by Mr. Arthur who was 
fishing from the rocks. I take this opportunity of thanking 
Professor Meek for his help and the loan of the books mentioned 
above, and Mr. Wood, who has taken the photographs for the 
illustrations. 
