wo 
9 
rs 
MR. J. 8. BUDGETT ON SOME POINTS IN 
X. The Cranium. 
In this paper I have no intention of dealing with the anatomy of the head and 
cranium of Polypterus, except that I wish to mention that the peculiar differences 
in the condition of the sphenoid bone which Bridge has described in two specimens 
which he examined, and called specimen A and specimen B, have been found to be 
specific in the two species from the Gambia. The sphenoid bone of Bridge’s specimen 
A, resembling that figured by Traquair, in which the lateral wings of the sphenoid did 
not curve inwards and fuse anteriorly in the frontal region, resembles exactly that of 
Polypterus senegalus, Cuy. The sphenoid (or “sphenethmoid”) bone of Bridge’s 
specimen B, which he suspected of being Polypterus lapradei, Steind., resembles 
exactly that species 1. 
XI. Conclusion. 
If in this paper I have occasionally reiterated facts which have long been known, 
I trust such has not been done without adding at least some details of interest. In 
any case I hope I have always acknowledged the authority. 
I feel that no apology is needed for having entered into minute details in some cases, 
for an accurate knowledge of the anatomy of a creature of such surpassing interest as 
the Polypterus seems to me in every way desirable. 
In obtaining my material for this investigation I have been aided by a grant of £50 
from the Balfour Fund of the University of Cambridge. The work has been done 
in Mr, Adam Sedgwick’s laboratory. To Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Graham Kerr, and 
Prof. Howes my thanks are due for much help and advice in my work, 
XII. Bibliography. 
Ayers: “Morphology of the Carotids,” in Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, vol. xvii., 1889. 
Barrour: ‘Comp. Embryology,’ vol. i. p. 606. 
Baxrour and Parker: “The Structure and Development of Lepidosteus.” Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. 
Lond. part 11., 1882. 
Bripce, T, W.: “ Some points in the Cranial Anatomy of Polypterus,” in Birm, Phil. Soe. vol, vi. 
part i., 1886. 
Garman: “ Chlamydoselachus anguineus,” in Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, vol. xii., 1885. 
Howes: “On some Hermaphrodite Genitalia of the Codfish.” Journ. Linn. Soe., Zool. vol. xxiii. 
Huxtey: “Classif. of Deyonian Fishes,” in Mem. Geol. Survey, dec. 10, 1861. 
“On the Oviducts of Osmerus.” Proc. Zool. Soc, Lond. 1883, p. 182. 
Hyrtz: “ Ueber d. Pori abdominales, d. Kiemen-Arterien, u.d. Glandula thyroidea d, Ganoiden.” 
Sitz. d. Wiener Akad. Bd. viii., 1852. 
* Since this paper was read, I have examined a young specimen of P. laprade? 12 cm. in length, and find 
that at this age the sphenoid has not yet developed its specific character, but resembles that of the adult 
P, senegulus. 
