Zoological Society. 397 



Ant-eater {Myrmecophagajubata). The occipital vertebra in the in- 

 dividual described is not perfect, and does not extend beyond the an- 

 terior occipital or interparietal, which is large and much broader than 

 in the Myrmecobius. The ex-occipital, or, more correctly perhaps, 

 the mastoid, articulates with the lateral margin of that bone. There 

 is neither parietal crest nor occipital. The two temporal fossae com- 

 municate by a nearly circular opening. The palatine portion of the 

 intermaxillaries, and the anterior portion of the maxillary bones, 

 have two small incisive foramina, and these are somewhat elongated ; 

 there is moreover in the palate two elongated openings, separated 

 only by a very narrow bony ridge ; the posterior boundaries of 

 these openings and the termination of the palate, owing to the frac- 

 tured condition of the skull, could not be seen. The suture between 

 the nasal and maxillary bones, as well as the lachrymal, which is rather 

 small, are nearly obliterated ; the lachrymal canal is visible. The 

 maxillaries, the length of which is proportionate to the nasal bones, 

 give origin to a zygomatic process, and in fact there exists a complete 

 zygomatic arch. The malar bone is of moderate thickness and 

 depth ; its posterior portion gives off a small process which projects 

 above the temporal apophysis, and appears to represent, in a rudi- 

 mentary condition, the little osseous temporal process observed in the 

 Echidna, rather than a true orbital process of the zygoma, which in 

 fact is wanting, as well as the orbital process of the frontal ; and in 

 this respect the Tarsipes differs from the Myrmecobius, with which 

 there exists an analogy as regards some other characters. The al- 

 veolar portion of the maxillaries is very hard and presents a cutting 

 edge, which is elevated in such a manner as to give to the palate a 

 slightly concave surface. 



The infra- orbital opening is small, and placed in a longitudinal 

 groove of the maxillary bone situated a little in advance of the bone 

 of the zygomatic process through which it is perforated. The 

 auditory bullae are convex, and nearly continuous with the squamous 

 portion of the temporal. The tympanic circle is complete, and com- 

 municates in a direct manner with the bullae by a large canal, which 

 permits of the interior of the chamber being seen. The articulation 

 of the squamous portion with the great ala of the sphenoid, is oblique 

 from the inferior margin of the zygomatic process in the anterior cen- 

 tral portion of the bone of the auditory chamber. The lower part 

 of the squamous element and this outer portion of the pterygoid are 

 on the same plane, and though bulbous, they do not form a second 

 auditory chamber, as in some marsupials, but merely an inflated por- 

 tion of the cranial cavity. The glenoid cavity for the articulation of 

 the lower jaw is indistinct. This jaw resembles in general form that 

 of Myrmecophagajubata, and it moreover bears a considerable ana- 

 logy to that of the Monotremata. It is subiinear, slender, almost 

 without a trace of coronoid process, and there being no angular pro- 

 cess, it does not present the peculiar conformation of this part of the 

 lower jaw which characterizes all the known marsupials ; and the 

 condyle, instead of being transverse as in these animals, is situated at 

 the apex of a little curvature formed by the entire masseteric portion 



