644 



to an imperfect skeleton stated to have been presented to Mr. Hunter by a Mr. Oxendon, 

 probably the gentleman who went two years in succession to the Orkney Isles for the purpose 

 of shooting it. This animal had been known for thirty summers to come to the same rock, and 

 lie basking in the sun. It had a grey beard. The dental formula is the same as in the Phocu 

 grcenlandica, but the canines are relatively larger, and the outer incisors still more so. The 

 molars are more simple and conical ; only the rudiment of an accessory basal cusp is seen 

 on the inferior ones. The skull is remarkable for the straightness of its upper contour and 

 the sudden bending down of the equally straight line formed by the deep and narrow pre- 

 maxillaries. There is a deep depression in the superoccipital, overarched by a thickly- 

 developed occipital ridge ; the squamosal and malar rise abruptly at their junction at the 

 middle of the zygoma. The acoustic bullee have been broken open, showing the expanded 

 and oblique middle opening of the meatus auditorius. The olfactory fossae are also broken 

 open, and the large and complex turbinal bone is shown in the right compartment. The 



bony palate is terminated behind by a semicircular notch. 



Hunterian. 



The following, to No. 3960 inclusive, are parts of the same skeleton of the Halichoerus 

 Crryphus : 



Hunterian. 



3944. The atlas. 



The perforation in the transverse process for the vertebral artery expands into a depression 

 as if for a sinus on its under part : from this there is a communication directly with the 

 neural canal, but the artery has proceeded forwards, notched the fore part of the process, and 

 perforated the fore part of the neural arch. 



3945. The seventh cervical vertebra. 



The transverse processes are imperforate, and consist simply of diapophyses. The lower 

 surface of the centrum is longitudinally carinate. 



3946. The tenth dorsal vertebra. 



It has both metapophyses and anapophyses. The diapophysis is indicated by a rough 

 surface for the attachment of the costal ligament above the broad articular surface for the 

 head of the rib. The lower surface of the centrum is smooth and convex. 



3947. A lumbar vertebra. 



The anapophysis is reduced to a small ridge. The diapophyses are lengthened out by 

 coalesced rudiments of ribs. The line of junction is indicated by a ridge : the metapophyses 

 continue to be very strongly developed. 



