42 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE [Jan. 10, 



Skull fully developed ; the ossification is imperfect, having a rather 

 large irregular aperture or fontanel on the crown of the head between 

 the parietal bones (fig. 3, p. 4 1 ) . The occipital foramen is very large ; 

 it is much produced upwards behind towards the crown ; the upper 

 part is narrow, occupying the greater part of the height of the narrow 

 supraoccipital bone, and on each side is a large half-oval aperture 

 (fig. 4, p. 4 1). The lateral wings of the atlas vertebra are very large 

 and broad, and much expanded behind. 



The skull of an Italian Greyhound and of a Beagle in the British 

 Museum have the foramen magnum large, and extending upwards 

 in the supraoccipital bone towards the crown ; but the extension is 

 much broader and shorter than in the Chinese Pug Spaniel, where it 

 is narrower, and extends nearly to the upper edge of the supraocci- 

 pital bone. 



These skulls also have an imperfection in the ossification, or a per- 

 foration, on the outer sides of the occipital bones and the squamous 

 bone, but these are not quite so large as they are in the Chinese 

 skull ; and in one of the skulls the right aperture is smaller than the 

 other. 



Miss Saunders of Reigate has a specimen of this Dog alive. It is 

 a small long-haired Spaniel, with slender legs, and rather bushy tail 

 curled up over its back. It differs from the Pug-nosed Spaniel 

 called King Charles's Spaniel in the hair being much longer and 

 more bushy, the tail closely curled up, and the legs being smaller 

 and much more slender. The nose of the Chinese or Japanese Pug 

 is said by some to be artificially produced by force suddenly or con- 

 tinuously applied : but that is certainly not the case in the skull that 

 is in the British Museum ; for the bones of the upper jaw and tlie 

 nose are quite regular and similar on the two sides, showing no forced 

 distortion of any kind, such as is to be observed in the skulls of 

 some Bulldogs ; for I believe that some " fanciers " are not satisfied 

 with the peculiarity, and do sometimes try to increase the deformity 

 by force. 



Miss Saunders has sent me the following particulars of her dog : — 

 " He is called a Japanese Pug Dog : they say he was the origin of 

 the King Charles's breed ; but I do not know if this be correct. 

 He is of a very jealous disposition, and timid, being afraid of the 

 noise of a train, the popping of a coal from the fire, and any other 

 sudden noise. He pretends to be very brave ift attacking strangers 

 or the gardeners ; but the moment they turn upon him he is oiF like 

 a shot, till he is at a safe distance, when he barks loudly. 



" When first he arrived from Japan (the spring of 1864) he would 

 not tread on grass ; but he is now quite accustomed to our lawn, and 

 will run about like other dogs. He prefers cold weather, and is 

 always better in health, though, excepting once, he has never been 

 ill since his arrival in England. He does not like strong hght, his 

 eyes looking watery and not quite open if he be in sunlight ; but of 

 an evening his eyes look very large and bright ; and if in a good 

 temper he will roll himself in the curtains or under our dresses, 

 growling and barking with pleasure. Damp weather does not agree 



