2o8 THE SKULL. [chap. 



posterior portion, supporting a transversely extended con- 

 dyle, and a high, slender coronoid process. 



In all the other genera of Armadillos the tympanic is a 

 mere half-ring, loosely connected with the surrounding bones. 



The hyoid arch is strongly ossified. The anterior cornu 

 consists of three bones. The thyrohyals ankylose with the 

 basihyal. 



In the Scaly Anteaters or Pangolins (genus Afanis), the 

 skull is somewhat in the form of an elongated cone, with 

 the small end turned forwards, and very smooth and free from 

 crests and ridges. The occipital plane slopes upwards and 

 forwards. There is no distinction between the orbit and 

 the temporal fossa, which together form a small oval depres- 

 sion near the middle of the side of the skull. There are 

 short zygomatic processes on the maxilla and the squa- 

 mosal, but the arch is incomplete in most species, owing to 

 the absence of the malar. There is likewise no distinct 

 lachrymal bone. The plane of the anterior narial aperture 

 looks forwards and upwards. The premaxilla is produced 

 along the side of the nasals towards, but not reaching, the 

 frontals. The palate is long and narrow. The Pterygoids 

 extend backwards as far as the tympanies, but do not meet 

 in the middle line below. The tympanic is ankylosed to 

 the surrounding bones, and more or less bullate, but not 

 produced into a tubular auditory meatus. The hinder part 

 of the squamosal is often dilated with air-cells, forming a 

 rounded prominence at the outer posterior angle of the skull. 

 The rami of the mandible are edentulous, very slender 

 and straight, without any angle or coronoid process. From 

 near the anterior extremity of the upper edge a sharp conical 

 tooth-Uke process projects upwards and outwards. The 

 condyle is a slightly expanded flattened surface, not raised 

 above the level of the rest of the ramus. 



