xi.] HYRAC01DEA. 201 



broad and massive truncated symphysial portion, which 

 supports the huge incisor and canine teeth. 



In the hyoid apparatus, the basi- and thyro-hyals anky- 

 lose, and are something like those of the Pig. The an- 

 terior arch consists of three well-ossified pieces of subequal 

 length. 



HYRACOIDEA. The skull of the Hyrax presents many 

 affinities with that of the Perissodactyla, others with the 

 Rodentia, and some characters peculiar to itself. 



The cranium is high and truncated behind, the occiput 

 nearly vertical, the tentorial and olfactory planes oblique, 

 the olfactory fossa rather small. 



There is a small distinct interparietal. The frontal region is 

 broad and flat. The zygoma is tolerably strong, and consti- 

 tuted mainly by the malar, which extends so far backwards as 

 to form the outer wall of the glenoid fossa, but it is supported 

 anteriorly by a strong process from the maxilla. The orbit 

 is bounded posteriorly by well-marked postorbital processes 

 which sometimes meet, the lower one from the malar, and 

 the upper one from the parietal (a very unusual condition). 

 The lacrymal is small, and scarcely extends at all on to 

 the face, but sends outwards a strong antorbital process (as 

 in the Rhinoceros and Elephant). The face is short, and 

 compressed laterally. The nasal bones are wide posteriorly, 

 and anteriorly are either truncated, or more produced at 

 their outer than their inner margins. The premaxillae do 

 not send up processes to meet the frontals, as in all 

 Rodents. 



The palate is not produced posteriorly beyond the middle 

 of the last molar tooth. The palate bones are large. The 

 ptervgoids very slender. There are well-marked pterygoid 

 fossse, and alisphenoid canals. The paroccipital processes 



