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bodies in their passage out of the column, I was at length satisfied 
that they had not passed in that manner; I, however, observed a 
considerable difference between the vertebrae ; and, indeed, between 
the columns which they form, in those parts where these processes are 
seen coming off, and in those from which these processes do not appear 
to have been yet separated. A considerable groove is observable on 
that part of the flat side of the vertebrae, from which the processes 
have proceeded; whereas, in the latter, no such groove or depression 
appears. 
From repeated examinations I have been, therefore, induced to suspect 
that these processes are not given off in either of the ways hitherto 
mentioned ; but that, in succession, they are formed on, and detached 
from, the surfaces of the vertebrae, somewhat in the manner of 
epiphyses. I was first led to this suspicion by remarking on the sides 
of the vertebrae where these processes did not appear to have been 
given off, that a prominence was observable in that part in which, 
when they had been given off, a considerable depression appeared. 
This prominence, in some instances, also appeared to bear the figure 
of the ossiculse of the processes, and even seemed to be surrounded 
by a line at which, perhaps, the separation would have taken place. 
This opinion, however, derived most support from the appearances 
yielded by the detached columns of other species, where not only the 
ossiculae may be seen adhering, but even the foveolae in which others 
have been fixed. 
The ossiculae of the vertebral processes, in whatever manner formed, 
appear to have been closely connected with each other, by such a 
species of articulation as was well calculated to admit the kind and 
degree of motion which these parts were intended to perform. The 
whole of the articulated process is composed of similarly formed 
bodies, which gradually diminish in their size, until they terminate 
in a small point. The animal seems to have possessed the power of 
coiling up very closely the terminating parts of these processes, so as to 
