244 Bulletin American Mufteittn of Natural History. [Vol. XX\'II, 



of the orbit, completely excluding the small vertical plate of the palatine 

 from the orbit. This seems to be a general Insectivore character, so far as 

 indicated by Parker's figures (contrast Carnivora and Marsupials). 



The region of the lachrymal, antorbital bridge and zygomatic process 

 of the maxillary is in general similar to that in Centetes and the same is true 

 of the orbito-temjjoral fossa. The malar is lacking, as in other Zalambdo- 

 donts and Sorex. 



The glenoid fossa of the squamosal is large and, in the young skull, 

 looks obliquely outward and forward, as in other Zalambdodonts; whereas 

 in the adult its long axis is somewhat more directly transverse. The post- 

 glenoid {entoglenoid) process of the squamosal as in other Zalambdodonts 

 lies on the inner rather than on the outer posterior border of the glenoid fossa. 

 Internally the postglenoid process is connected with a lateral crest of the 

 alisphenoid (Fig. IS), which may be a remnant of the glenoid extension of 

 the alisphenoid seen in ]\larsupials, and which is strongly developed in 

 Iciops. The post-ti/m panic process of the squamosal is separated by a 

 distinct meatal arch from the glenoid fossa whereas in the adult Centetes 

 the two are conjoined. In Microgale (Fig. 18, B) the post- tympanic process 

 is widely separated from the glenoid fossa, as in Ictops. 



The hard palate in the adult, as in other Insectivores ends in a transverse 

 ridge more or less similar to that in Didelphis, Erinaceus and Creodonts. 

 But in the young Solenodon the post palatine ridge is only faintly indicated. 

 In the young skull the palatal plates of the maxillary do not come together 

 completely at the posterior end in the mid line and in the adult skulls there 

 is a small fenestra at this point. This was also noted by IMivart (1868, p. 

 124) in S. cuhanvs. Otherwise there are no palatal fenestrse (contrast Erina- 

 ceus). 



The vomer is large in the young skull and is flanked on either side by a 

 large subhorizontal wing, which, as in Thylacynns appears to be continuous 

 anteriorly with a lateral scroll of the ethmoid. In the young Solenodon, 

 through the shallowness of the orbital plate of the palatine, a portion of this 

 vomerine wing is left exposed on the side wall of the skull (Fig. 18, A^, Wo). 

 In Centetes the orbital plate of the palatine appears to be represented by a 

 small wing, which is pierced by the sphenopalatine foramen, and which 

 covers this vomerine exposure. 



The existence of true pterygoids (Fig. IS pt.) in Solenodon can scarcely 

 be affirmed from the material at hand, but in the fcetal Centetes Parker so 

 names the vertical pterygoidal flanges, which, as in other Insectivores are 

 said by him to have a cartilaginous core. The pterygoids and pterygoid 

 flanges of the palatines in Solenodon form on each side a single long ridge, 

 as in other Zalambdodonts, and also as in Ictops, the jiterygoid fossse not 

 being developed (contrast Erinaceus). 



