88 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



incus on both sides is anchylosed to the malleus, 

 and the two mallei are closely united by a bony 

 expansion formed of the processus graciles and the 

 flattened-out capitula. Accordingly, the four ossicles 

 are united into one piece, which is situated con- 

 siderably to the left of the middle line. Each 

 malleus is fairly normal in shape, though somewhat 

 larger than usual. The manubria project down- 

 wards, inclining slightly towards each other, and 

 are a little more curved than usual. The large 

 depression which is normally present above the 

 processus brevis is united with the corresponding 

 one of the other side to form a groove along the 

 connecting plate of bone. The capitulum is so 

 altered, by being flattened-out and firmly anchylosed 

 with the incus and with its neighbour on the other 

 side, as to be scarcely recognisable as such. 



Each incus is considerably modified by being 

 flattened-out and elongated. On the left side the 

 processus brevis forms a stout process which tapers 

 away to a point, to which is attached the ligament 

 of the incus. The other process, which ought to be 

 attached to the stapes, is altogether abnormal in 

 shape. It is present as a short, stout, irregular 

 projection, with a small process passing for a short 

 distance alongside of and parallel to the processus 

 brevis. On the right side the processus brevis is 

 considerably shorter, and the irregular bony pro- 

 jection corresponding to the processus orbicularis 

 much smaller in size than on the left. 



On both sides the stapes is present in the fenestra 

 ovalis, and as each incus is situated near the middle 

 line, on neither side is there any connection between 

 the stapes and the incus. On the left side they are 

 about i inch apart, and on the right almost | inch. 

 Whether as the result of this or not, the stapes of 

 the one side is quite different from that of the 

 other. On the left side it is almost normal in 

 shape, except that the head, instead of being flat- 

 tened, forms a point, and that the whole bone is 



