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PROCEEDINGS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



[Nov. 21, 



divided into two portions by a transverse ridge, extending from the 

 outer and upper part of the condyle to the posterior and inner face 

 of the paramastoid process. The large precondyloid foramen (pro- 

 bably somewhat enlarged accidentally) opens into the lower and ante- 

 rior division of the fossa, beside the condyle, and about -i-th of an inch 

 behind its anterior inferior boundary. The upper boundary of the 

 foramen magnum is almost straight, and its summit is below the 

 level of the superior edge of the condyle (when the base of the skull 

 is horizontal). The condyle is divisible into an upper, smaller, ob- 

 liquely ascending, and a lower, more nearly horizontal facet. The fine 

 of junction between the two, forming the posterior limit of the con- 

 dyle, is rounded off and is directed obliquely outwards and upwards. 

 The moderately convex upper facet looks upwards, backwards, and 

 but very slightly outwards. It is broad above, where its transverse 

 diameter amounts to nearly half an inch, and tapers off gradually 

 to a point below and internally. 



The inferior facet, less curved than the other, is 0*6 of an inch 

 wide behind, hardly more than half that in front, and fully 0-8 of an 

 inch long. It is slightly convex from side to side, and from behind 

 forwards, posteriorly, where it looks downwards and outwards ; convex 

 from side to side, and slightly concave from behind forwards, in front, 

 where it is directed more horizontally downwards. Its anterior narrow 

 end has a sharply denned rounded margin, which can be traced to 

 the anterior boundary of the occipital foramen ; so that the occipital 

 condyles certainly did not coalesce in the middle line. 



The paramastoid process is broken off rather above the level of 

 the lower boundary of the occipital condyle ; but, from the thinness 

 of the fractured edge, I imagine it did not extend much further. It 

 is broad and flattened, the (lirection of its greatest diameter being 

 from behind and without, inwards and forwards. Its posterior face 

 is directed as much inwards as backwards, and its outer margin is 

 sharp, except towards the lower end, where it becomes rounded. In- 

 ternally, it thickens before rejoining the exoccipital, in front of, and 

 external to, the precondyloid foramen . The upper part of its anterior 

 and external face is evidently rough and has united with the mas- 

 toid, now completely broken away ; but it is difficult to say how far 

 downwards the sutural face extended. The posterior boundary of 

 the jugular foramen is preserved on the inner side, and in front of, the 

 thick inner edge of the paramastoid. 



The sagittal crest is continued forwards from the triangular pro- 

 minence common to it and the occipital crest, and at once becomes 

 verv thin and sharp. It is broken off at a very short distance from its 

 commencement, and at this point it is a quarter of an inch high. Its 

 superior margin is not parallel with the contour of the middle line 

 of the parietal region, but has a more marked upward inclination, so 

 as to lead one to suppose that the crest rose to a considerable height 

 in the middle of the synciput, — a conclusion which is strengthened 

 by the great thickness of the parietals (of whose median suture no 

 trace is visible) in the middle line. The transverse section presented 

 by the anterior broken edges of these bones is, in fact, triangular, 



