No. 8 SKULL OF BRIDGER CREODONT—GAZIN II 
foramen rotundum, was evidently confluent anteriorly with the sphe- 
noidal fissure. The posterior opening of the alisphenoid canal is surely 
represented by the clearly defined foramen immediately anterior to 
the foramen ovale (agreeing here with Wortman’s interpretation). 
Ventral aspect——In the over-all appearance of the skull in ventral 
view (pl. 3), one notes the short, broad palate, elongate mesoptery- 
goid and basicranial portion, and widely swinging, massive zygomae. 
The palate in greater detail shows the premaxillae not much extended 
forward of the canines and nearly straight across the front of the 
incisors. The anterior palatine foramina are close to the incisors and 
median to the canines. They appear nearly circular when viewed from 
somewhat forward of the palate. The posterior palatine foramina 
are on the forward portion of the suture between the maxillae and 
palatines, medial to the fourth premolars. The posterior nares are cov- 
ered beneath by the palate to a point farther back than the posterior 
border of the orbital plate of the maxilla on either side, about medial 
to the posterior margin of the carnassials. The mesopterygoid fossa 
is extremely elongate anteroposteriorly and the forward portion is 
partially constricted below by inwardly directed lower margin of the 
ascending plate of the palatines. Posteriorly the fossa is more open 
as the pterygoids along their lower margins diverge toward the hamu- 
lar processes. The posterior margin of the pterygoids, above the 
hamular process, sweeps abruptly upward and posterolaterally just 
inward of the foramen ovale, apparently extending almost to the notch 
representing the foramen lacerum medius. Particularly noteworthy 
is the union of the pterygoids across the roof of the mesopterygoid 
fossa, concealing the presphenoid and the anterior portion of the 
inferior surface of the basisphenoid. Anterior to this the evidence is 
not so clear, but there seems no doubt but that the palatines are also 
united through a median suture completely removing the presphenoid 
from participation in the mesopterygoid fossa, not, however, the 
vomer, the median ridge of which can be seen emerging from the 
nasal cavity. 
In the basicranial area only the basisphenoid, basioccipital, and 
periotics are preserved posteromedial to the squamosals and alisphe- 
noids. The basioccipital is broad as well as elongate, evidently occu- 
pying a relatively large area of the basicranial region. The basilar 
tubercles for the recti capitis muscles on the forward portion of this 
bone are elongate and well developed, reaching their greatest promi- 
nence forward at the suture between the basioccipital and basisphe- 
noid. Posterolaterally, the basioccipital is perforated by a broad and 
flattened condylar or hypoglossal foramen which joins a prominent 
