1884.] ON THE EDIBLE FROG IN ENGLAND. 573 



as the internal pterygoid process of the sphenoid, because later it 

 fuses with that bone, and in the process squeezes the vidian nerve 

 between it and the basi-sphenoid. 



(i) The middle piece remains throughout life as the cartilaginous 

 portion of the Eustachian tube. 



(e) The third portion, that connected with the malleus, degenerates 

 into fibrous tissue, and becomes the anterior ligament of the malleus, 

 and may be seen in the adult passing from the Eustachian cartilage 

 to the head of the malleus. 



The diagrams exhibited (figs. 2 and 3, pp. 571, 572) show at a 

 glance this transformation ; and to make the picture complete the 

 metamorphosis of the two associated cartilages has been added also. 



With regard to the morphological value of this bar, it requires 

 very little perception to see at once that it is in man the representative 

 of the palato-quadrate of Elasmobranchs, Amphibians, &c. 



In concluding let me remark that Nature fashions the most complex 

 skull on precisely the same ground-plan as she does the simplest, and 

 it must be evident to every thinking mind that the nearer we approach 

 truth in these matters — " how simple do her ways appear." 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 

 Plate LIII. 

 Fig. 1. A longitudinal section of a Pike's skull, to sliow the situation of the pre- 

 maxilla, pre-palatine, and vomer (after Huxley). The terminology is 

 altered in accordance with the views of this paper. 



2. The so-called parasphenoid of the Pike disarticulated. 



3. The vomer of a human foetus at birth. 



4. Longitudinal section of the skull of a human foetus at term, to show the 



situation of the vomer. 



5. An under view of the anterior part of the skull of Lepidosfeus, to show 



the two so-called vomers (pre-palatines). The pre-maxillse have been 

 removed (modified from Parker). L\ the figures 5, 6, 7, 8, the lettering 

 is the same. Pre.m. premaxilla. Pre.p. Prepalatine. P. Palate bone. 



Plate LIV. 



6. The skull of Lacerta agilis, showing the relation of the pre-maxilla, 



pre-palatines, palatines, and vomer. 



7. Skull of Wombat, showing the relation of the bones on hard palate as in 



last figure. 



8. Hard palate of man (foetus at term) to show pre-maxilla, and the pre- 



palatine portion of the superior maxilla, and palate bone, for com- 

 parison with figures 6, 6, & 7. 



3. Notes on the Edible Frog in England. 

 By G. A. BouLENGERj F.Z.S. 



[Eeceived November 10, 1884.] 



(Plate LV.) 



In a communication in the July number of the ' Zoologist,' I 

 reviewed the information collected up to that time respecting the 

 occurrence of the Edible Frog, Rana esculenta, in England, and 

 showed that the Frog hitherto found at various places (Foulmire fen in 



39* 



