ADAMS: SKULL OF THE WOLF-EEL. 345 



Vomer. (Plate XXVI; plate XXX, fig. 24.) 



The vomer is a large, stout bone, and is one of the strongest 

 in the skull. It is boat-shaped, with the prow pointed poste- 

 riorly. 



Lateral Faces. (Plate XXVL) 



The lateral faces are convex both ways and are wider an- 

 teriorly than posteriorly. The postero-superior edge is drawn 

 out laterally and dorsally, making an articulation for the eth- 

 moid and the prefrontals. There is a small tubercle on the 

 anterior part near the dorsal edge, the articulation for the long, 

 slender maxilla. The dorsal posterior half of the face is nar- 

 rowed down, the parasphenoid fitting over it. These lateral 

 faces are marked by several pits. There is a prominent fora- 

 men posterior to the articulation with the prefrontal, and sev- 

 eral along the ventral edge, just above the teeth. 



Ventral Face. (Plate XXX, fig. 24.) 



The ventral face is the tooth-bearing surface and has nine to 

 eleven teeth. 



Dorsal Face. 



The dorsal face is very irregular, and is covered with pits 

 and cavities, large and small. A thin tongue of bone extends 

 along the median line longitudinally, fitting into a groove in 

 the parasphenoid. The anterior half of this face is raised and 

 extended out laterally, having a dentate edge which articulates 

 with the prefrontals and the ethmoid. 



Articulations. 



The vomer has four : On its antero-lateral part it has a small 

 tubercle which articulates with the maxilla; dorsally with the 

 ethmoid and the prefrontals; posteriorly with the parasphe- 

 noid. 



The Suborbital Ring. (Plate XXV, fig. 1.) 



The suborbital ring is made up of seven bones. The largest 

 is at the anterior end of the ring, and they gradate down to the 

 fifth, which is the smallest. They articulate with the frontal 

 and prefrontal. The frontal extends out laterally, and a double 

 notch is formed; by this the anterior suborbital articulates 

 with it. The two suborbitals at the ends are the largest of the 

 ring. 



2-Univ. Sci. Bull.. Vol. IV. No. 16. 



