PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. r>7. 



fortune to examine. On tliis account I have found it desirable to 

 describe it in considerable detail. 



In comparison with other members of the Insectivora, the skull 

 (figs. 1 and 2) is remarkably broad and flat when viewed from above, 

 approaching in this respect many of the Rodentia, and exceeding that 

 of Galecrpterus or Myrmecohiiis. When seen from the side its vertical 

 depth in front of the orbits is much reduced, and the whole area of 

 the top of the skull is wedge-shaped, v/ith a more or less pointed 

 extremity in front. The nasals are relatively short, being less than 

 one-tliird the length of the skull, and at their anterior free extremities 

 are thickened, and flared upwards; a little behind the center they are 

 widened somewhat, and still behind this they terminate in sharp 



Jz^ j^st. a. 



Fig. 1.— Rynchocyon peteesi. No. 1S2561, U.S.N.M. Ft., fkontal; Ju., jugal; La., lachrymal; 

 3/i.,maxillaky; iVa., nasal; Pa., parietal; Prnx., premaxillary; Ft. F., PRErKONTAL; Pst. F., post- 

 frontal; Pst. O., postorbital; Sept. Mx. 1 septomaxillary. X 2. 



points where they articulate with the frontals. The premaxillaries 

 are short and do not send processes backward alongside the nasals 

 but a short distance. Like the nasals, where they form the boundary 

 of the anterior narial opening, they are everted or flared outward and 

 at the point of junction with the nasals are somewhat thickened. 

 This thickened border undoubtedly serves for the attacliment of the 

 unusually long cartilaginous snout, which is so common a feature of 

 the Insectivora. The maxiUaries form nearly the whole of the side 

 of the face, wliich is separated from the top of the skull b}^ a rather 

 sharp angulated border. The infraorbital opening is large and issues 

 just above the anterior border of the first molar. Behind this the 

 face is deeply concave from above downwards, the concavity extending 



