344 MR. G. R. WATERHOUSE ON THE SKULL OF THE 
bones ; a faint depression is observed towards the base of the nasal bones, and about the 
middle of the frontal bones there is another depression, which, however, is indistinct. 
The interorbital portion is considerably contracted, and is narrowest posteriorly ; from 
between the orbits to about the middle of the frontal bones, the sides of the skull are 
nearly parallel (interrupted, however, by a short, strong, post-orbital process) ; from this - 
part to the occiput the cranial cavity somewhat suddenly increases in width; the sides, 
when viewed from above, presenting almost straight, but diverging lines. The occipital 
or lambdoidal crest is strong, considerably elevated, and directed backwards and up- 
wards, and runs forward, and in the mesial line of the skull, to join the very faint longi- 
tudinal ridge which represents the sagittal crest. This crest, I suspect, is never well 
developed as in the Common Badger. The plane of the occipital portion of the skull is 
almost vertical: a considerable concavity is observed on each side in the ex-occipitals, 
and situated about midway between the foramen magnum and the outer boundary of these 
bones. The foramen magnum is of a transversely ovate form ; its upper boundary slightly 
overhangs the lower one. The auditory bulle are very large and convex, and the meatus 
auditorius, or bony canal leading to them (which is nearly horizontal, and directed 
slightly backwards), is proportionately large. The zygomatic process of the temporal 
bone is produced at right angles from the skull, to form a broad articular surface for 
the condyle of the lower jaw ; this glenoid cavity, like that of the Common Badger, has 
its anterior and posterior processes; these, however, merely serve to prevent the pro- 
trusion or retraction of the lower jaw, and not to enclose and lock the condyle, as in 
the last-mentioned animal. The zygomatic arches are moderately strong, curve up- 
wards and outwards ; the outer surface is most convex near the hinder part. The malar 
bone is extended backwards to within about two lines of the glenoid cavity ; its upper 
surface is produced into a short and somewhat obtuse, post-orbital process, and in front 
it is extended to form both the anterior boundary of the orbit and the upper boundary 
of the ant-orbital foramen, articulating with the superior maxillary and lachrymal bones, 
which latter appear not to extend on to the face. The almost vertical ant-orbital fora- 
men is of moderate size (less than in the Badger), and is separated from the orbit 
by a narrow space about one line in width. There is considerable depression in the 
superior maxillary bone just above the ant-orbital foramen, and near the orbit, somewhat 
resembling that observed in the Otter. The facial portion of the skull is short, broad, 
and obtusely terminated. The nasal opening is rather broader and shorter than in 
Meles vulgaris. The nasal bones are rather short, dilated anteriorly ; thence they gra- 
dually decrease in width, and at their junction with the frontals they are suddenly con- 
tracted, so that the posterior portion forms two slender, long, pointed processes. The 
nasal processes of the intermaxillaries are short ; the palatal portion is also short: the 
incisive foramina are ovate, and do not encroach upon the maxillaries, though their poste- 
rior boundary is formed by them. The palatal process of the maxillary bones, and that 
of the palatal bones, are about equal in Jongitudinal extent ; the palato-maxillary suture 
