x.] MAX 135 



by the smooth rounded upper part of the parietal and 

 frontal bones. The orbit is completely encircled by bone, 

 the outer margin being formed by a process from the malar 

 ascending to join the post-orbital process of the frontal; and 

 it is, moreover, in great part separated from the temporal 

 fossa by an extension inwards of the ascending process of 

 the malar meeting the alisphenoid, although a communica- 

 tion is left between the two cavities below in the " spheno- 

 maxillary fissure." The axis of the orbital cavity is directed 

 more forwards than in the Dog. The face is altogether very 

 much shorter, broader, and flatter. 



In the inferior surface of the skull, the palate is seen 

 to be much shorter and wider, than that of the Dog, 

 especially anteriorly, where its outline forms an almost 

 semicircular curve. The maxillo-palatine suture is nearly 

 straight transversely, and so is the hinder border of the palate, 

 though produced backwards into an obtuse spine at the 

 middle line. The distance between the hinder border of the 

 palate and the foramen magnum is much shorter relatively, 

 the space between the pterygoids being particularly short 

 and wide. The true pterygoids and pterygoid plates of the 

 alisphenoid are widely separated posteriorly, leaving a con- 

 siderable fossa between them ; and the latter are larger 

 and project further backwards than the former. The under 

 surface of the tympano-periotic region is rough and irregular, 

 instead of being smooth and bullate, and the perforation for 

 the internal carotid artery is very conspicuous. There is 

 no alisphenoid canal, scarcely any postglenoid process, no 

 distinct glenoid venous foramen, a very small paroccipital, 

 and a very large mastoid process. By the inclination of the 

 occipital surface downwards, instead of backwards, an 

 inferior view of the skull includes nearly all this surface, 

 with the large foramen magnum and the condyles. 





