SOQTH AFKICAN THEROCEPHALIAN REPTILES. 



353 



the canine, where the maxilla passes up to form the vault of the 

 palate, the palatine lies closely a.gainst the maxilla except where 

 there is a large foramen, presumably for a nerve. Hanghton 

 figures two foramina in a corresponding structure in Akldo- 

 gnathus. Kear the middle of the palatine is an oblique ridge, 

 which pi'obably supported a soft palate and carried the internal 

 nares back to the antei-ior pterygoid region. The inner side of 

 the palatine articulates with the prevomer and the pterygoid. 

 The greater part of the posteiior border forms the margin of the 

 suborbital vacuity. Further out is a moderately large articulation 

 with the ectopterygoid. 



Tlie ectopterygoid is an ii-regularly shaped bone, not unlike a- 

 bird's quadrate. Anteriorly it articulates with the palatine; 

 externally with the maxilla and probably with the jugaL Be- 

 tween the maxilla and the ectopterygoid is a small foramen. 

 Posteriorly there is a large flat articulation between the ecto- 

 pterygoid and the pterygoid. In front of the pterygoid process 

 there is an even larger ectopterygoid process. All the outer side 



Text-fio-ure 8. 



Palate ot Moschorhitius kitcliingi Broom. 



of the suborbital vacuity is formed by the ectopterygoid and 

 much of the posterior. 



Only the anterior portions of the pterygoids are preserved. 

 From the broad deep lateral portions which articulate with the 

 ectopterygoids they pass forward only a comparatively short 

 distance to meet the pre vomers and the palatines. In this region 

 each pterygoid sends down a thin vertical plate, which, uniting 

 with its neighbour, forms a median keel. 



In general structure the palate agrees more closely with that in 

 Akidognathtis, though the pi'oportions of the bones are very 

 different. In Ahidog natlnis tlie prevomers have, as in Aloscho- 

 rhinus, a suture between them, and yet are anchylosed in front. 

 Moschorhinibs difiers in having no interptervgoid vacuity so far 

 as can be seen in the specimen. If one be present, it must be 

 much further back than in Akidognathus. 



