Scott. — Osteology of the Maori and 2Ioriori. 19 



wards across the mastoid process, nearer its anterior than its 

 posterior border. In neither case is the separation between 

 the two elements complete. 



Paramastoid Process. — This was noted in eight skulls, in 

 four of which it is present on both sides. As a rule they 

 are small and unimportant, but those of a skull from near 

 Dunedin merit a short description. They are both low and 

 blunt, but are each articular ; one, the left and the longer, arti- 

 culates with the outer surface of the corresponding lateral 

 mass of the atlas, while the other articulates with the upper 

 and back part of the right lateral mass. This skull is part of 

 a complete skeleton, and the atlas shows the facets which 

 correspond to these paramastoid articular surfaces. In 

 another skull there is a non-articular paramastoid on one side, 

 while on the other there is, not a projection, but a smooth 

 flattened area on the undersurface of the jugular process, 

 whicli in all probability was for articulation with the transverse 

 process of the atlas. 



In one female skull, also from Otago, the atlas is fused to 

 the occipital bone by its anterior arch and lateral masses. 



Tliird Condyle. — A slightly-raised third condyle, 8mm. 

 broad, is present in one skull close to the anterior edge 

 of the foramen magnum. In another the anterior border of 

 the foramen is articular, but not raised. On the contrary, it is 

 slightly concave, as if the tip of the odontoid had pressed on 

 the occipital. In a third skull, although there is no articular 

 surface, there are two bony nodules lying close together on the 

 undersurface of thebasi-occipital, a very short distance in front 

 of the border of the foramen. 



Parietal Foramen. - — This, though present in the great 

 majority of skulls, is often exceedingly minute. It is absent in 

 20 per cent, of the crania examined. It is present on both 

 sides in 32-5 per cent., and on one side in 45 per cent. One 

 skull has two foramina on one side, the right ; and in four the 

 foramen is in the middle line. 



Posterior Condyloid Foramen. — This also varies in size, but 

 not to the same extent as the parietal foramen. It is absent 

 in nearly 8 per cent, of the skulls measured. It is present 

 on both sides in 56 per cent., on one side in 36 per cent., 

 occurring more often on the left side than on the right 

 side. 



External Auditory Meatus. — No obvious diminution in the 

 size of this canal was observed. No exostoses are present, 

 but in one adult skull the tympanic plate is perforated. 



The superior curved line of the occipital bone is clearly 

 double m 33 per cent, of the crania examined. 



Equilihrium of Skull. — Nearly 40 per cent, of the skulls, 

 when placed on a table, rest on the teeth, and either the 



