DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA. 77 



proportionate depth and breadth, in some skulls being comparatively deeper, 

 narrower and more convex above, in others lower, broader, and more Hat above. 



The forehead is lozenge-shaped in outline, and is usually moderately convex 

 transversely, but varies from being nearly flat in some skulls to being quite promi- 

 nently convex in others. It is usually more or less depressed along the middle, but 

 in some skulls is quite even, and in others is depressed only for a short extent at the 

 bifurcation of the temporal ridges. 



A pair of frontal or supra-orbital foramina exist about the middle of the forehead, 

 situated a short distance from each other. From them proceed grooves more or less 

 deep towards the upper part of the nose, as in the Hog. 



The upper part of the nose varies in breadth, and is more or less convex, but 

 rarely nearly flat. The anterior extremities of the nasal bones together form a pro- 

 jecting triangle, as in the Hog and Sheep. 



The end of the nose slightly slopes, as in the Peccary, but it projects compara- 

 tively little beyond the position of the canine teeth. The anterior nasal orifice 

 appears rather quadrate shield-like, the lower border being prolonged between the 

 premaxillaries. The lateral notch of the nasal orifice extends at its upper part 

 between the nasals and maxillaries, so as to separate the premaxillaries from the 

 former. 



The side of the face is bounded by a convex alveolar border, and a sloping and 

 slightly convex upper border. Posteriorly, over, below, and in front of the orbit, it 

 forms an inclined plane, defined below by the inferior edge of the malar bone. Its 

 fore part is more or less convex and vertical, and exhibits a curved prominence pro- 

 duced by the fang of the canine tooth. Back of the latter the alveolar border is at 

 first concave, and then convex. 



The infra-orbital foramen occupies a position above the third premolar tooth. 



The hard palate is of nearly uniform breadth posterior to the position of the canine 

 teeth, and is moderately arched, in a somewhat angular manner, towards the centre. 

 The anterior palatine foramina are small compared with those of ordinary ruminants, 

 but are proportionately about the size of those of the Camel family. They are 

 situated within the position of the canine teeth, and are elliptical in form. The 

 posterior palatine foramina pierce the maxillary bones almost opposite the interval of 

 the third and fourth premolar teeth. 



Forms, relations, and connections of the hones of the skull. — The back part of the 

 occipital bone is triangular, with a broad convex apex extending backward into a 

 pair of prominent wing-like processes, and extending forward on the top of the cra- 

 nium, as in the Camel, to articulate with the parietals and temporals. The ex- 

 occipitals terminate below in strong paranj^astoid processes, and hold about the same 



