AUDITORY OSSICLES OF A SYNOTIC CYCLOPIAN LAMB. 87 



projecting downwards and forwards from the 

 anterior extremity of the united malars. The 

 anterior angle is tipped with a small irregular mass 

 of cartilage probably representing the nasal cartil- 

 ages. Owing to the maxillae being almost entirely 

 absent and displaced, the malars and squamosals are 

 anchylosed with those of the opposite side along 

 what should have been the malar-maxillary suture 

 and the inferior edge of the zygomatic arch. 



The temporal fossae are fairly well formed on 

 either side, and communicate with one another 

 between the median zygomatic arch and the base of 

 the skull. Though the lower jaw is absent, the 

 temporal muscle is well formed. The fibres of the 

 one side for the most part blend with those of the 

 other, but a number are inserted into the upper side 

 of the malar and under side of the base of the 

 skull. 



The occipital bones and the periotics are practically 

 normal. The squamosals, w^hich are articulated 

 normally with the periotics, form flat bony expan- 

 sions which articulate laterally with the parietals 

 and are anchylosed together in the middle line. 

 Anteriorly this compound squamosal is connected by 

 suture with the united malars, the two together 

 forming an arch over the conjoined temporal fossae. 

 In the middle line behind, the united squamosals 

 rest on the basisphenoid. 



From the one periotic to the other there passes 

 a strong semi-circular arch of bone — the conjoined 

 tympanies, the ends articulating w^ith the cranium 

 representing the posterior ends of the two tympanies. 

 Across this arch of bone is stretched the tympanic 

 membrane, in which lie the manubria of the two 

 mallei. In front of the membrane, and laterally, is 

 situated the common tympanic cavity, to some ex- 

 tent roofed over by bony plates projecting from the 

 squamosals. In this cavity lie the ossicles. 



The condition of the ossicles is perhaps the most 

 interesting point connected with the skull. The 



