193] OSTEOLOGY OF LORICATI—GUTBERLET 23 



for the anterior head of the hyomandibular. In other respects this bone 

 is like that of Ophidon except that the foramen for the external carotid 

 artery, the jugular vein, and parts of the fifth and seventh nerves are 

 located in a pit slightly mesial to the arcade. 



The epiotic (Figs. 2, 5, 7, epo) is flattened on the dorsal surface 

 and extends caudad into a flattened process which forms a part of the 

 dorsal surface of the cranium. On the meso-posterior edge a flange- 

 like process from the posterior end of the bone extends meso-cephalad 

 to the median line where it unites with a similar process on the supra- 

 occipital. The lateral edges of the epiotics project slightly over the 

 fossa and form a part of the roof. 



The parietals (Figs. 2, 5, p) have a granulated surface like that 

 of the frontal and pterotic. They lie on the dorsal surface of the supra- 

 occipital and form only a small part of the roof of the brain case at the 

 edges of the supraoccipital. The bones do not meet their whole length 

 in the median line, but leave the supraoccipital exposed. 



The supraoccipital (Figs. 2, 7, so) has a flange-like process on the 

 posterior surface which is a continuation of that on the epiotic. The 

 flanges of either side fuse in the median line where they come in con- 

 tact with the crest which extends from the dorsal edge of the bone to 

 the ventral edge of the process. Near the dorsal edge of the skull it 

 forms a slight depression on the caudal surface in connection with the 

 parietal. 



The basioccipital (Figs. 2, 5, 7, ho) and exoccipitals (Figs. 2, 5, 7, 

 eo) are as in Ophidon, except that in Scorpionichthys the condylar pro- 

 cesses and the basioccipital are longer. 



Facial Bones 



The maxilla is shorter and more flattened throughout its entire 

 length than in Ophidon. On its ventro-mesial edge is a small facet for 

 articulation with a similar facet on the dorsal surface of the vomer. 



The premaxillary (Fig. 10) is much shorter than in Ophidon but 

 the dorsal processes are the same. Only villiform teeth are present 

 which are numerous. 



The palatine is similar in all respects except that the mesial pro- 

 cess is larger than in Ophidon, and only villiform teeth are present. 



The hyomandibular has a large flange-like process on the outer 

 surface which extends ventro-posteriorly from the dorso-anterior angle 

 formed by the irregular cross, to nearly the postero-ventral edge of the 

 shank. The shank is broad and flattened throughout and unites with the 

 preopercular, symplectic, and metapterygoid. 



The preopercular (Fig. 3) bears two spines, one long and pointed 

 and the other short and somewhat rounded, a condition not found in 



