904 THE OSTEOLOGY AND MYOLOGY OF THE DEATH ADDER, 

 Os SUPRA-OCCIPITALE. 



Squama ossis occipitis^ D' Alton ; Occipitale siqyerius, Cuvier, 

 Gegenbaur, Job. Miiller, Owen, Hoflfmann, Wiedersbeim ; Squa^nm 

 occipitalis, Kallmann, Stannius ; Occipitale superius vel squama 

 occipitalis, Harting ; Schuppe des Hinterhauptbeins, Meckel^ 

 Ratbke : Supra-occipitale, Huxley, Parker, Parker and Bettany. 



Tbe supraoccipital is a very small quadrilateral-sbaped bone 

 formed by tbe coalescing of tbe moieties of tbe opposite sides at 

 tbe mid-line ; tbe suture can be made out. Tbe bone runs down- 

 wards and backwards. Tbe superior edges are closely joined to 

 tbe epiotics, wbile tbe parietal rests upon tbem. Tbe inferior 

 edges articulate witb tbe exoccipitals. Tbe posterior surface of 

 tbe bone gives attacbment to tbe spinalis dorsi. Tbe anterior 

 surface belps to form portion of tbe cranial roof. In Python 

 tbere is a well marked median ridge, indicating tbe line of junction 

 of tbe opposite sides. Tbe bone articulates witb tbe parietal, 

 epiotic, and exoccipital. 



OssA Periotica. 



Petrosinn, D' Alton, Kallmann, Harting, Miiller, Wiedersbeim, 

 Kocber, Cuvier ; Felsentheil des Schlafheins, Meckel ; Ejnotic, 

 Prootic, Opisthotic, Huxley, Parker, Parker and Bettany, Hoff- 

 mann, Gegenbaur ; Felsenbein, Ratbke ; Ala temp)oralis, Stannius. 



Tbe periotic bones are covered in part by tbe anterior portion 

 of tbe squamosal. On tbis being removed tbe three bones are 

 seen united by tbe characteristic Y -shaped synarthrosis. 



Tbe prootic lies anterior to tbe other bones. It is united 

 superiorly witb the epiotic, and superior plate of the parietal, 

 while in front it joins the posterior portion of tbe lateral plate of 

 that bone. Inferiorly it rests on the basioccipital and basispbenoid, 

 while posteriorly it is in contact with the opisthotic and exocci- 

 pital. Its external surface is perforated by the large foramen 

 ovale, and is in relation with the alispbenoid. The fifth nerve 

 issues from the foramen ovale in two divisions, the anterior one 



