Dr. G. Baur.on Meiolania. 41 
condition of the pterygoids than Iam, ‘ who, after examining 
merely the cast, thinks the lateral expansion of the pterygoids 
“may be produced by crushing of the edges.’” But Mr. 
Boulenger forgets to state that I remarked, “ even if it [the 
expansion] were natural, it would not be of great importance.” 
This is a great difference. I did not think only that the 
edges are crushed; I admitted the other possibility that they 
are natural, I believe Mr. Boulenger when he says that they 
are natural, but even then this makes no difference. Such 
expansions are indicated in some of the Testudinide (conf. 
Testudo elephantina, Giinther, ‘Gigantic Land-Tortoises,’ 
pl. ix. fig. A) ; and, as I stated before, in the Chilote we find 
all conditions of these expansions. 
6. To Mr. Boulenger it seems extremely probable that 
fin Mezolania] “the quadrate did join the basisphenoid, as in 
Podocnemis.” But I miss the reasons for this probability. 
7. “The back of the skull of Jfolania is as typically 
Pleurodiran as can be, and totally different from that of the 
Testudinide.” The complete bony ring is “ decidedly held 
to be formed by the quadrate.”’ Also here I miss the reasons. 
8. “ How Dr. Baur has acquired his information respecting 
the characters of the Pleurodiran cervical vertebrae as com- 
pared with the Cryptodiran is a puzzle to”? Mr. Boulenger. 
My information was acquired by the examination of many 
hundreds of Testudinata in the museums of this country and 
in Europe; and I have not to change a single point in my 
statements. 
I said, “1. The centrum of the first vertebra [of the 
Pleurodira] (the so-called odontoid process) is absolutely free 
from the second, with which it articulates freely.” In the 
Cryptodira “it is not absolutely free from the second, but 
more or less connected.” 
This is the fact; if the cervical vertebre of a Pleurodiran 
are macerated the centrum of the atlas becomes free from the 
centrum of the axis; in the Cryptodira it remains more or 
less connected. 
9. “ Better than any lengthy discussion, the following 
figures will show whether Dr. Baur is justified in stating that 
an ‘atlas-ring’ is absent in the Pleurodira and that the cen- 
trum alone supports the neuroids of the atlas.” 
At first I have to protest against misstatements. I have 
never said that the centrum alone supports the neuroids. J 
have clearly stated that in the Podocnemidide the first tnter- 
centrum is “ slightly connected with the neuroids.” In regard 
to the atlas-rmg I may say the following: an atlas-ring is 
