434 MR. A. H. G. DORAN ON THE MORPHOLOGY 



the processus brevis of Man, as the sharp angle at the base of the manubrium, which 

 represents it in the Shrew, may be plainly distinguished (with the aid of a lens), and 

 seen to be pushed outwards by this very orbicular apophysis under discussion. Nor 

 is it the processus muscularis ; for such a process exists in Sorex. In the Bulau 

 {Oymnura rafflesii), as in the Shrew, a large, curved, and conspicuous processus 

 muscularis exists, as well as a large, well-formed orbicular apophysis. The tolerably 

 large malleus of this animal (fig. 14) is very favourable for examination to eluci- 

 date the question. I consider it highly probable that this orbicular process is the 

 homologue of the sharp projection seen in the neck of the malleus of the common 

 Badger, and already described in this paper. It is true that a sharp projection is 

 also to be found on the neck of the malleus of Sorex ; but in that little animal the 

 projection lies midway between the head and the handle, whereas in Meles the sharp 

 projection is placed close to the manubrium, in the exact position where the orbicular 

 process is to be found both in Sorex and in all other animals where it exists. 



Hence it is not the homologue of any named portion of the malleus in any of the 

 Mammalia ; nor is it represented, except as an orbicular process, in any member of that 

 class, putting aside the angular projection on the Badger's malleus * In all probability 

 embryology will be able to show that it represents some part better developed in the 

 homologue of the mammalian malleus among the Sauropsida and Ichthyopsida. 



The incus of Sorex has a fairly developed body ; the processus brevis is very short and 

 non-divergent; the stapedial crus is rather long, and diverges considerably from the 

 body ; it supports a Sylvian apophysis, very minute (even proportionally), and mounted 

 on a slender pedicle. Altogether this ossicle is of a type very frequent among the Mar- 

 supials; yet it will be remembered that extreme shortness of the processus brevis 

 and marked divergence of the processus longus are seen in Mammals as high as Ursus 

 and Mustela. 



The stapes of Sorex has a minute vessel running between its crura in the recent skull, 

 but unsupported by any bony canal ; so that it drops out and is readily lost in maceration. 

 The head is ill-developed, broad, and shallow ; the crura are much curved, especially the 

 posterior ; and the aperture is very wide, as in Homo. The base is narrow horizontally, 

 and very narrow vertically. The stapes of Sorex is evidently of a much higher type 

 than are the two outer ossicles. 



The malleus of the Daesman (Myogale moschata) must hold an important share of the 

 anatomist's attention when he undertakes the study of the orbicular apophysis, so 

 frequent in this Order (see PL LXII. figs. 3, 4). 



The upper portion of the head is even less developed than in Sorex, projecting but 

 little above the upper edge of its articular surface, which is narrow in its horizontal, but 

 extremely wide in its vertical measurement. The incus in the recent skeleton lies, I 

 have observed, as much posteriorly as in the higher Primates. Both facets are of about 

 the same size; hence the lower is proportionally larger than in most animals; they are 

 nearly plane, and not divided by a sharp groove. The neck is short and curved. At a 

 first glance the outline of the lower facet of the articular surface looks like a portion of 



* And in the malleus of Bassaris and a few other animals. 



