148 

 68. The skull of the tune Lacortian (Rkyntkoctpkaiiu), 



The occipital condyle is unusually elongated transversely, and preaeot* the form of a crca- 

 rentic, convex bar, bent upward*. The batitpbenoid sands down two short prooeatu to abut 

 against the pterygoid*. The parietal bone ia perforated by a small median foutaiielle close i> 

 the *afittal suture : it* upper surface presents two strung curved and approximated temporal 

 crest*, divided by a median, angular, longitudinal furrow -. the crest* are continued outward* 

 upon the posterior bifurcated part of the parietal to be continuous with that forming tin 

 upper border of the mastoid : the frontal it divided by a median suture. The posterior Irontal 

 support* a strong, obtuse ridge forming the back part of the frame of the orbit, and uuiu- 

 below with the malar and behind with the mastoid. The premaxiUary bones are divided by 

 i auture, and their dentigerout border project* below the level of that of the maxillary 

 The vomer ia likewise divided by a median Mture. The palatal aperture* of thi 

 i are bounded behind by the vomer and palatal plate of the maxillary : this plate i i 

 I breadth, a* compared with the Luards generally, and presents the unusual (imiliani y 

 of a dentigerout ridge parallel with the posterior half of the alveolar border. It in .itimn ! 

 dote to the inner side of thi* border, leaving only space sufficient for the reception of the teetli 

 of the aider jaw. The teeth are completely confluent with the summits of the pro|ier ami 

 accessory alveolar ridges. The palatine bone* are united together along the anterior halve*. 

 The rami of the lower jaw are not anchyloaed at the symphysis. The alveolar border i* ser- 

 rated by a tingle row of anchyloscd teeth. The coronoid piece i* triangular, rues into 

 point, and present* a smooth articular surface on it* inner tide, adapted to the anterior lateral 

 projection of the pterygoid. 



Presented by Prof. Otcrn, /' i 



Family Ckamfleonia. 

 Genus 



' '' I The skeleton of a Chameleon (Ckamdeo vniyarit). 



The teeth are short, and so confluent with the jaws that these appear to have simply a 

 largin. The external nostrils are divided, a* in all Lixard*, by the premaxillary 

 , which sends a natal process upwards and backward* to join the nasal bones. There i 

 a vacuity in the bony walk of the upper surface of the skull, between the median bar MI 

 formed and the prefrontal* : a long, compressed, serrated crest arches upward* and backward* 

 from the wpSToecrpital and parietal bone*, and joins the processes of bone continued from thi 

 mastoidi. The vertebrae are 64 in number, of which 16 support movcable rib*, commencing 

 at the fourth. The first two pairs of rib* are free or floating ; the pair attached to the sixth 

 vertebra ia first articulated to the sternum by mniossjfcd cartilages ; the three tocceeding 

 pair* abo join the sternum. In the following pairs the long and slender cartilage* meet at an 

 acute angle directed forward*, and unite together at their extremities. There are two 

 bne without ribs, or ' lumbar vertebrae ': in the three following the rib* are short, thick, and 

 Bchrtoaed to the vertebrae ; they give attachment to the iliac bone* and form a *acrnm. The 



