THE LACEETILIA. 



221 



apophysis on the posterior face; a lateral-temporal, between 

 the squamosal and postfrontal above, thejugal and quad- 

 rate in front and behind, and the quadrato-jugal ligament 

 below. 



The palatine and pterygoid bones 

 are firmly connected both with the 

 facial bones, and with the floor of 

 the skull. Thus the basisphenoid 

 gives off two basipterygoid processes, 

 the outer ends of which articulate 

 with the inner sides of the pterygoid. 

 The posterior ends of the pterygoids 

 are usually connected with the inner 

 surfaces of the distal ends of the quad- 

 rate bones. Their anterior ends are 

 firmly united with the palatines ; and, 

 from the junction of the two, a trans- 

 verse bone (Fig. 70, Tr) usually passes, 

 to unite the palatine and pterygoid 

 with the maxiUa. 



The anterior ends of the palatines 

 unite with the maxillae and the vomers ; 

 but, in existing Lacertilia, they do not 

 meet one another, or come into contact 

 with the basisphenoid or presphenoid 

 in the middle line. The palatine aper- 

 tures of the nostrils are placed between 

 the palatine bones, on the outer side, 

 and the vomer, on the inner. In only 

 a few Lacertilia do the palatine bones 

 send do\vn processes which bend to- 

 wards one another in the middle line, and so form a posterior 

 nasal passage, partially separated from the oral cavity. 



The two rami of the lower jaw are usually, though not 

 invariably, firmly connected at the symphysis — and each is 

 composed of five ossifications in addition to the articulare. 



The hyoidean apparatus consists of an elongated median 

 rod, the anterior part of which supports the base of the 



Fig. 70.— Under-view of 

 the skull of Cyclodus : 

 N', posterior nasal 

 apertui-e. 



