904 Dll. R. BROOM ON THE 



The supraoccipital is completely anchylosed to tlie exoccipitals, 

 but its probable limits are indicated in the figure given. Inune- 

 dia.tely above the foi-amen magnum is a small rounded bony knob. 



The exoccipitals form the greater part of" the occipital condyles, 

 Avhich are remarkably mammal-like. Above each condyle is a 

 narrow fissure or groove leading into the foramen magnum, but 

 it seems too small to have been for the transmission of either an 

 artery or a vein, and most probably it was not for a nerve. 

 Possibly it is merely owing to the elevation of a portion of the 

 bone for the attachment of a ligament. The exoccipital passes out 

 a considerable distance under the lateral foramen and articulates 

 with the stpiamosal. 



The quadra,te is well shown in Seeley's figure 8. It is a 

 relatively small bone, which is firmly fixed on to the squamosal by 

 the main part being in front and two long processes being behind 

 its lower projection. Referring to the posterior delicate processes 

 Seeley says : " I am unable to afiirm that they represent auditoiy 

 ossicles." They are unquestionably parts of the quadrate and 

 have nothing to do with the auditory function. The quadrate 

 forms the greater part of the articular surface for the lower jaw, 

 but not the whole of it, part of the squamosal also forming 

 a portion of the articulation. This is particularly interesting in 

 view of the fact that in the Monotremes the lower jaw hinges 

 directly on the squamosal bone. 



The palate of Cynognathas is nearly wholly known, the only 

 points concerning which we are still ignorant being the relations of 

 the bones round the anterior palatine foramina., the nature of the 

 middle part of the basicranium, and the relations of the palatine 

 and pterygoid to the jugal. 



There is a large secondary palate forined by the maxillfe and 

 palatines exactly as in Mammals. In a recent paper Seeley 

 describes what he believes to be teeth on the palate of 

 Ci/nognathus. I have, however, had an oppoi'tunity of examining 

 Seeley's specimen and believe the supposed teeth to be merely 

 irreguUxrities of the bony surface, possibly pathological. Certainly 

 in the other specimens I have examined there is no trace of 

 anvthing like teeth. The hard palate ends in the middle line 

 opposite the front of the third last molar. 



The pterygoids are large and have well-developed pterygoid 

 processes, which lie close along the inside of the jaws as in reptiles 

 generally. There is no transpalatine or ectopterygoid bone. 

 Instead of, as in most reptiles, the pterygoid having a posterior 

 process which extends to the quadrate, it here ends near the 

 middle of the inner wall of the temporal fossa, the posterior 

 continuation which looks like pterygoid being really part of the 

 alisphenoid bone. 



The vomer is alai'ge median bone which posteriorly lies between 

 the two pterygoids. In front it forms a vertical plate which 

 supports the secondary palate exactly as in Mammals and extends 

 to near the front of the snout. 



