PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



TOL. 77 



The occipital condyle is relatively large and directed obliquely 

 downward in relation to the longer axis of the skull, indicating the 

 normal pose of the head to form an obtuse angle with the neck. 

 The condyle is subspherical, the greatest diameter being transverse. 

 It has a greatest width of 58 mm., and a greatest vertical diameter 

 of 52.5 mm. 



The exoccipitals extend outward and backward, their outer ends 

 projecting backward beyond the occipital condyle. The outer or 

 paraoccipital processes form the two small horn-like projections 

 shown in the superior view of the skull (pi. 2). These bones are 

 indistinguishably fused with the exoccipitals. 



LTJ^. 



Figure 1. — Skull op Palaeoscincus bugosidens. Txpe. No. 11868, U.S.N.M. 



POSTERIOH VIEW. OnE-THIRD NATURAL SIZE. Bs. pt. ProC, BASIPTERTGOID 

 process, of THE BASISPHENOID ; EtC^ ECTOPTERYGOID ; Ex. OC, ExOCCIPITAL 

 L. T. F., LATERAL TEMPORAL FENESTRA ; Oc, OCCIPITAL CONDYLE ; P. OC, PARA- 

 OCCIPITAL PROCESS ; Pt., Pterygoids ; Qu., Quadrate ; S. oc, Supraoccipital 



The supraoccipital strongly overhangs the foramen magnum. The 

 latter is suboval in outline, and has a greatest transverse diameter 

 of 33 mm. and a vertical diameter of 28 mm. 



The quadrates are wide transversely, and of moderate thickness. 

 A wide process that projects forward and inward is firmly coalesced 

 with the pterygoids. The upper end is fully enveloped by the over- 

 lying squamosal and posteriorly these ends are coalesced with the 

 paraoccipitals. Viewed from below the distal articular end of the 

 quadrate is triangular in outline (fig. 2). The main articular face 

 for the ramus has its greatest diameter fore and aft. Toward the 

 outside it slopes upward. From an external view only the thin edge 

 of the quadrate is seen and it is covered by a roughtened dermal 

 growth of bone. 



The palate side of the skull is in an excellent state of preservation. 

 Slight crushing and loss of a few minor pieces is all that mars 



