APPENDIX. 



NOTES on the SKULL op AUSTROCHAPERINA 

 ROBUST A, Fry. 



(Plate ix. and fig. 40). 



With but a single badly preserved specimen at my disposal for 

 dissection, I have dealt at present with only the most important 

 of the osteological features, the skull. As my specimen has been 

 in weak spirits for the past thirty years the preparation has been 

 a difficult matter, and cartilaginous parts have been removed, the 

 cartilage being reduced to the consistency of jelly. This has, 

 however, resulted in only one serious deficiency, the removal of 

 the vomers, which lie attached ventrally to the cartilage of the 

 olfactory capsules. The vomers are therefore not figured in 

 situ. 



As a result of the fine work of Prof. L. v. Mehely 9 the osteology 

 of the Engystornatidae has been made a simple matter, and this 

 author has shown that in this family at least, the skull exhibits 

 good generic characters, and a striking range of variation. 



Comparing the skull of Austrochaperina with that of Chaperhia 

 fusca, the typical species of the genus, figured by Prof. v. Mehely, 

 the most important differences appear to be : — in Austrochaperina 

 the nasals form a median suture, while in Chaperina they are 

 separated ; the palatine bones in Austrochaperina differ in having 

 a distinct ridge, and a well developed palatine plate which forms 

 a broad median suture with its fellow ; the pterygoid in Chaperina 

 is comparatively weak, while in Austrochaperina it is a strongly 

 developed, more twisted bone. Of lesser importance are the more 

 elongate frontoparietals and the smaller quadratomaxilla in 

 A ustrochaperina. 



The foramen magnum viewed from behind is roughly oval, 

 slightly produced above. Viewed from above it is seen to be 

 oblique, facing slightly upwards, and concave between the 

 condyles. 



9 Mehely — Termeszetrajzi Fiizetek., xxiv., 1901, pi. vi., figs. 4-5. 



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