CONFORMATION 157 



poll. It is mainly concerned in the protection of the brain, 

 and has a ridge of great strength along the upper surface, 

 from which the bone slopes down like a roof on each 

 side. 



Covering the entire back of the head, and immediately 

 behind the parietal, comes the occipital (c), whose position 

 exposes it to great strain, since it has to support the whole 

 weight of the head, the back of which it covers. It is 

 articulated to the first vertebra of the neck, the atlas, by two 

 rounded protuberances, termed condyles, which lie at the 

 base of the bone. It is either at the junction of this bone 

 with the atlas, or at the junction of the atlas with the 

 second vertebra, the dentata, that the Spanish bull-fighters 

 give the death-stroke to the wretched maimed horses in the 

 bull-ring; and the matador frequently despatches the bull. 

 It is the usual method of killing employed by the butchers 

 in Spain, and a merciful one, for death is instantaneous. 

 The head must be drawn downwards, and the neck some- 

 what bent, thus separating the vertebrae to the utmost, 

 when a sharp thrust transfixes the spinal cord, and the 

 animal often dies without a struggle. On the outer 

 sides of the occipital are two pointed projections for the 

 attachment of some of the muscles of the neck which assist 

 in supporting the head. They are termed styliform 

 processes. 



The temporal bone {d) contains the internal parts of the ear, 

 has a depression or hollow underneath for the articulation 

 of the lower jaw, and forms the greater part of the orbit by 

 joining with the extremity of the frontal bone, and also with 

 the malar, or cheek-bone, thus forming the " zygomatic arch." 

 The orbit is completed by the lachrymal (/), a small facial 

 bone at the inner corner of the eye. Above the temporal 

 bone unites with the parietal, and behind with the occipital. 



Immediately below the frontal is the nasal bone (g), 

 covering the delicate membranes of the nose, and one of the 

 principal bones of the face. The superior maxillary (/?) is a 

 large bone occupying the side of the face, and carrying the 

 molar teeth, or grinders, and the tusk of the upper jaw. 

 The nippers, or incisor teeth, are inserted iu the pre- 



