DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA. 181 



the large size of the palatine notch. The posterior palatine foramina are large, and 

 occupy the position of the suture between the palate and maxillary bones. 



The anterior palatine foramina greatly exceed in size those of recent suilline 

 animals. As far as can be ascertained from their imperfect condition in the specimens 

 under examination, they appear together even to be larger than the corresponding 

 foramen in the Tapir. 



Form, relations, and connections of the hones of the skull. — The parietal bones are 

 fused at the sagittal crest, in which they are widest. They narrow in their descent, 

 and at the bottom of the temporal fossae join the ali-sphenoids. 



The supra-occij^ital advances on the sides of the summit of the cranium more than 

 in the Hog, and in that position forms an angular plate between the posterior extre- 

 mity of the parietal and the^upper extremity of the squamosal. 



The latter contributes but little surface to the side of the cranial cavity compared 

 with that of the Hog, and in this respect aj^proaches the condition in the Hippopota- 

 mus, especially the Chcerodes. The squamosal is much extended outwardly, and 

 forms the large contribution to the temporal surface in front of the posterior root of 

 the zygoma. 



The suture defining the squamosal above descends very obliquely, but with a 

 moderate curvature forward, from the lateral border of the inion to the bottom of the 

 temporal fossa just in advance of the position of the oval foramen, when it curves 

 backward externally to the latter and crosses the zygomatic root. . 



The frontal is single, and it contributes more than a fourth to the extent of the 

 temporal surface. 



The fronto-parietal suture, commencing in the notch of the sagittal crest, curves 

 forward a short distance upon the temporal ridge upon each side, and then turns 

 rather abruptly downward and backward on the temporal surface to about its middle, 

 when it again abruptly turns forward and downward to the ali-sphenoid bone. 



Anteriorly the frontal terminates in two long angular processes, including the pos- 

 terior extreraites of the nasals, and separating them from the lachrymals. 



The post-orbital process of the frontal is strong and long, and is directed downward, 

 outward and backward to join the corresponding process of the malar. 



The latter bone enters almost entirely into the formation of the zygoma. Its com- 

 paratively feeble connection with the maxillary and lachrymal is compensated in its 

 additional strong connection with the frontal in the post-orbital arch. The malar is 

 a deeper bone than in the Hog, and its posterior portion in the same manner gives 

 support to the zygomatic process of the temporal. 



The facial and orbital surfaces of the lachrymal form two sides of an irregular 

 cuboid. The facial surface forms a large square inclined plane. The suture from 



