INSECTIVORA 



Outline when viewed from the side long wedge-shaped, rounded 

 off posteriorlj. Surface of skull smooth, except for a slight 

 sagittal crest, present in old individuals along course of parietal 

 suture, and a crest-like elevation extending forward and outward 

 from antero-external angle of interparietal along edge of slightly 

 inflated mastoid region, and terminating anteriorly in a slightly 

 pointed projection. Brain-case with posterior margin nearly semi- 

 circular to projecting points already mentioned, then abruptly 

 conical to back of interorbital region, its outline when viewed 

 from behind fusiform, a little less than half as deep as wide ; 

 condyles slightly projecting, but not noticeably breaking general 

 posterior outline. Interparietal large, strap-shaped, slightly 

 convex in front, similarly concave behind, the lateral extremities 



squarely truncate, its antero-pos- 

 terior diameter about one-third 

 transverse diameter. Its anterior 

 and lateral sutures remain visible, 

 but the lambdoid suture is nearly 

 obliterated earh^ in life, though 

 its position is usually marked by 

 a slight ridge representing the 

 lambdoid crest. Base of brain- 

 case smooth, without cousf)icuous 

 ridges, furrows or open sj^aces, 

 the bones for the most part some- 

 what inflated ; two ill-defined pits 

 in surface of basioccipital in front 

 of foramen magnum ; a shallow, 

 broadly triangular median furrow 

 between the low, flattened bullae, 

 the sub-circular, slightly triangu- 

 lar outline of which is sometimes 

 distinctly indicated, but more 

 often very obscure ; auditory 

 meatus small, nearly circular. 

 Inner pterygoid plate small but well developed, the hamulars 

 short, turned slightly outward ; mesopterygoid space much 

 narrower posteriorly than anteriorly, its greatest breadth less 

 than half length, its length much more than width of palate 

 between posterior molars, its anterior border broadly rounded ; 

 region outside pterygoid plate inflated and with low but distinct 

 longitudinal ridge, convergent anteriorly with that forming edge 

 of mesopterygoid space. Interorbital region sub-cylindrical, dis- 

 tinctly expanded at middle. Rostrum narrower and somewhat 

 abruptly lower than interorbital region, its narrowest point just 

 behind canines ; nares with evident posterior emargination. 

 Anteorbital foramen moderately large, its posterior border over 

 metastyle of r/<-, the plate forming outer wall of canal usually 

 much narrower than foramen Lachrymal foramen above anteor- 



FIG. 1. 



Talpa europeea. Nat. size. 



