COMPOSITION OF THE SKULL. 



379 



ing gill-slits or spiracles, but are closed in the higher Verte- 

 brates. As a rule, the skull is symmetrical, exceptions being 

 found in the flounders and the bones about the nose of cer- 



Fig. 381. -Skull of the Lion. 2, occipital condyle ; 7, Parietal bone and sagittal 

 crest ; 8, paroccipital ; 27', squamosal bone ; 27, zygomatic arch ; 26, malar bone ; 

 11, frontal bone ; 12, poet-orbital process; 15, nasal bone; 21, maxillary bone; 22,. 

 premaxillary bone ; 32, mandible ; 3, occipital crest ; c, canine teeth ; p' 2 , second pre- 

 molar ; ml, molar tooth. After Owen. 



tain whales and porpoises. The base of the skull is perfo- 

 rated for the exit of the nerves proceeding from the base of 

 the brain, and the hinder bone (occiput] is perforated (fora- 

 men magnum) for 

 the passage of the 

 spinal cord from the 

 medulla oblongata. 

 It is probable that 

 there is a general 

 parallelism between 

 the head of Insects 

 and Vertebrates. 



While the head of Fig. 382. Skull and visceral skeleton of a Selachian 



, . (diagram), occ. occipital region; to, wall of the laby- 



Wmged. insects, tor rinth ; eth, ethmoidal region ; n, nasal pit ; a, first, b, cv 



, . , ,, second labial cartilage ; o, superior, n, inferior portion. 



example, Consists Of of the mandibular arch /. ; IL, hyoid arch; III.-VIIL 



a certain number of (1 ' 6) ' branchial arches - After Gegenbaur. 

 segments, homologous with those of the rest of the body, 

 and with mouth-parts homologous with the limbs ; so the 

 skull is also segmented, and an expansion and continuation', 

 of the vertebral column. Gegenbaur even maintains that 

 the various arches of the head are homologous with the limbs. 



