chap, xi.] UNGULATA. 163 



and are roofed over by very large nasals, broad behind, and 

 ending in front in a narrow decurved point. The opening 

 of the anterior nares is prolonged backwards on each side 

 of the face between the nasals and the elongated slender 

 premaxillae. The latter expand in front, and are curved 

 downwards to form the semicircular alveolar border which 

 supports the large incisor teeth. 



The orbit is rather small in proportion to the size of the 

 whole skull, but very distinctly marked, being completely 

 surrrounded by a strong ring of bone with prominent 

 edges. The lachrymal occupies a considerable space on 

 the flat surface of the cheek in front of the orbit, and 

 below it the malar does the same. The latter sends a 

 horizontal or slightly ascending process backwards below 

 the orbit, to join the under surface of the zygomatic 

 process of the squamosal, which is remarkably large, 

 and instead of ending, as usual, behind the orbit, runs 

 forwards to join the greatly developed postorbital pro- 

 cess of the frontal, and even forms part of the posterior 

 iand inferior boundary of the orbit — a very exceptional 

 arrangement (see Fig. 56). 

 The palate is very narrow in the interval between the 

 incisor and molar teeth, in which are situated the large 

 anterior palatine foramina. Between the molar teeth it 

 is broader, but it does not extend further back than the 

 penultimate molar and ends in a rounded excavated border. 

 It is mainly formed by the maxillae, as the palatines are 

 very narrow. The pterygoids are delicate slender slips of 

 bone attached to the hinder border of the palatines, and sup- 

 ported externally by, and generally ankylosed to, the rough 

 pterygoid plates of the alisphenoid, with no pterygoid fossa 

 between. . They slope very obliquely forwards, and end in 

 curved, compressed, hamular processes. There is a distinct 



m 2 



