174 



LEPORID^:— ORYCTOLAGUS 



In the skull (as compared with Lepus) the superciliary 

 processes of the frontals are slender, and not wide or distinctly 

 triangular. In some specimens of domestic forms an anterior 

 notch may become a foramen by junction of the anterior angle 

 with the frontal bone ; occasionally an anterior angle may be 

 completely fused to the cranium, thus obliterating even a 

 foramen (see also Figs. 44 and 45). 



The interparietal bone is distinct throughout life. 



•for.mcus. 



FlG. 33. — Diagram showing interparietal legion of skull in — (i) Oryctolagus ; (2) Lepus, in 

 which the interparietal bone is absent in adults (both slightly magnified). 



/./«/'. = left parietal ; r. par. = r\ght parietal ; occip. — occipital ; for. mag. — foramen magnum. 



The bony palate is relatively long, its length being greater 

 than the width either of the posterior nares or of the incisive 

 foramina, both of which are narrow, especially the former. 

 The parts of the palatine bones bordering the maxillae below 

 the posterior edge of the bony palate are better developed than 

 in Lepus, and form part of the roof of the mouth along the 

 posterior dental alveoli. 



The anterior portions of the zygomata are deeper than the 

 posterior. The foot-like extremities of the zygomatic processes 

 of the squamosals are enlarged, so that the lateral length of a 

 squamoso-malar suture is about one or one and a half times 

 less than that of the superior border of its malar, measured 

 from the anterior end of the squamoso-malar suture to the 



