GADUS 



69 



of little bones which bound the orbit below and behind. These 



bones touch the prefrontal anteriorly and the frontal behind. 



The most anterior of the 



string is the lachrymal, 



and the following ones 



are the suborbitals and 



postorbitals. 



Before leaving the 

 neurocranium, mention 

 must be made of the 

 post-temporal, which 

 touches the epiotic and 

 pterotic behind. It will 

 be noticed again in con- 

 nexion with the shoulder 

 girdle. 



The splanchno- 

 cranium consists of the 

 bony supports of the 

 visceral arches. In the 

 branchial arches there are 

 four elements on each 

 side : pharyngo-, epi-, 

 cerato-, and hypo- 

 branchial. The pharyngo - 

 branchials of the anterior 

 branchial arches are 

 fused together ; the 

 skeleton of the posterior 

 branchial arches is less 

 well developed and 

 ossified. The h y p o- 

 branchials of the anterior 

 three branchial arches 

 articulate with a median 

 and ventral basibranchial. The fused pharyngobranchials 

 and the ventral elements of the last arch bear teeth. 



The skeleton of the first two visceral arches (mandibular 



