494 THE RABBIT CHAP. 



In the front wall of each orbit, fitting comparatively 

 loosely between the frontal and maxilla, is a small bone, 

 the lacrymal* (Fig. 132, A, ICY}, with a notch near its 

 outer border through which the naso-lacrymal duct 

 passes (p. 186). 



As in the frog, the chief bones of the upper jaw on 

 either side are the premaxilla* (p. max) and the maxilla* 

 (max) , and nearer the middle line are the palatine* (pal) 

 and " pterygoid "* (pt) : in the embryo the position of 

 the two last-mentioned bones is 'taken by cartilage 

 representing the upper jaw of the dogfish (compare 

 Figs. 112 and 9) . The premaxillae, in which the sockets for 

 the front or incisor teeth are situated, form the anterior 

 boundary of the snout, and articulate with one another 

 in the median line and with the maxilla behind : each 

 gives off a nasal process passing backwards between the 

 nasal and maxilla to the frontal, and a -palatine process 

 (pal. p. max) extending backwards along the palate in 

 contact with its fellow of the opposite side. The maxillae 

 are large and irregular bones, parts of the sides of which 

 are f enestrated, and in which the cheek-teeth are situated. 

 From the inner and inferior edge of each, opposite the 

 first two cheek-teeth, a horizontal palatine process (pal. 

 max) is given off, which, articulating with its fellow 

 of the opposite side, forms the anterior part of the bony 

 support of the hard palate this is of much less extent 

 in the rabbit than in most mammals : from its outer 

 side arises a zygomatic process (zyg. max), which forms the 

 anterior part of the strong zygomatic arch extending 

 below and externally to the orbit. 



The palatines are thin, nearly vertical, bony laminae, 

 internal to the maxillae to which they are attached in 

 front, while above they join the presphenoid and the 

 pterygoid process of the alisphenoid. They bound the 

 passage of the internal nostrils, and from the inner and 



