The first, or =atlas= vertebra (fig. 69, A), differs much from all the others; it is drawn out into a pair of wide wing-like transverse processes (fig. 69, A, 1), and forms a ring surrounding a large cavity. This cavity is during life divided into two parts by a transverse ligament; the upper cavity is the true neural canal, while the lower lodges the =odontoid process= of the second vertebra, which is the detached centrum of the atlas. The neural arch is broad and regular; it has no spinous process, and is perforated in front by a pair of foramina for the passage of the first spinal nerves. The mid-ventral portion of the atlas is rather thick, and bears a minute backwardly-projecting hypapophysis. The bases of the broad transverse processes are perforated by the =vertebrarterial canals= (fig. 69, A, 2). The atlas bears at each end a pair of large articulating surfaces; those at the anterior end articulate with the condyles of the skull, and are very deeply concave; those at the posterior end for articulation with the axis, are nearly as large, but are flattened. The atlas ossifies from three centres, one forming the mid-ventral portion, the others the two halves of the remainder. The second, or =axis= vertebra (fig. 69, B), also differs much from the other cervicals. The long and broad centrum has a very flat dorsal surface, and is produced in front into the conical =odontoid process= (fig. 69, B, 5), and bears a pair of very large convex outwardly directed surfaces for articulation with the atlas. At its posterior end it is drawn out into a pair of small backwardly-directed spines, the transverse processes; these are perforated at their bases by the vertebrarterial canals. The neural arch is deeply notched in front and behind for the passage of the spinal nerves, and is drawn out above into a very long compressed neural spine (fig. 69, B, 4), which projects a long way forwards, and behind becomes bifid and thickened, bearing a pair of flat downwardly directed postzygapophyses. In the young animal the odontoid process is readily seen to ossify from a centre anterior to that forming the anterior epiphysis of the axis. The remaining five cervical vertebrae, the third to the seventh inclusive, have rather flattened wide centra, obliquely truncated at either end. The neural spine progressively increases in size as the vertebrae are followed back. The transverse processes vary considerably; those of the third are divided into a thicker backwardly-, and a more slender forwardly-projecting portion; those of the fourth and fifth mainly extend downwards, and that of the sixth is divided into a horizontal portion and a downwardly-projecting =inferior lamella=. All the cervical vertebrae except the seventh have the bases of the transverse processes perforated by the vertebrarterial canals. The prezygapophyses in each case look upwards and slightly inwards, while the postzygapophyses look downwards and slightly outwards. THE THORACIC VERTEBRAE.