﻿184 
  pelobatidj::. 
  

  

  SKELETO^^ 
  — 
  The 
  skull, 
  so 
  far 
  as 
  the 
  shape 
  and 
  the 
  

   extent 
  of 
  ossification 
  are 
  concerned, 
  is 
  intermediate 
  

   between 
  that 
  of 
  Discoglossus 
  and 
  that 
  of 
  Bombinator, 
  

   agreeing 
  with 
  the 
  latter 
  in 
  the 
  absence 
  of 
  palatine 
  

   bones. 
  Ethmoid 
  short, 
  not 
  extending 
  posteriorly 
  

   beyond 
  the 
  anterior 
  two 
  fifths 
  of 
  the 
  basisphenoid 
  ; 
  the 
  

   lower 
  anterior 
  lamina 
  rounded 
  or 
  truncate, 
  and 
  extend- 
  

   ing 
  nearly 
  to 
  the 
  posterior 
  border 
  of 
  the 
  vomers; 
  

   the 
  upper 
  obtusely 
  pointed 
  and 
  extending 
  to 
  between 
  

   the 
  nasals. 
  The 
  lars^e 
  chondro 
  cranial 
  fontanelle 
  is 
  

   only 
  partially 
  covered 
  by 
  the 
  fronto-parietals, 
  these 
  

   bones 
  being 
  in 
  contact 
  with 
  each 
  other 
  to 
  but 
  a 
  small 
  

   extent 
  either 
  behind 
  or 
  in 
  the 
  middle. 
  Nasals 
  mode- 
  

   rately 
  large, 
  tear-shaped, 
  not 
  meeting 
  on 
  the 
  median 
  

   line. 
  Zygomatic 
  branch 
  of 
  the 
  squamosal 
  short. 
  

   Vomers 
  moderately 
  large, 
  narrowly 
  separated 
  from 
  

   each 
  other 
  on 
  the 
  median 
  line 
  ; 
  pterygoids 
  rather 
  

   slender, 
  the 
  anterior 
  branch 
  longest 
  and 
  joining 
  

   the 
  maxillary; 
  parasphenoid 
  dagger-shaped, 
  sharply 
  

   pointed 
  in 
  front, 
  and 
  extending 
  forwards 
  to 
  the 
  line 
  

   of 
  the 
  anterior 
  borders 
  of 
  the 
  orbits, 
  separated 
  from 
  

   the 
  pterygoids. 
  Mento-Meckelian 
  bones 
  distinguish- 
  

   able 
  only 
  from 
  the 
  inner 
  side 
  of 
  the 
  mandible. 
  

  

  Hyoid 
  a 
  large 
  cartilaginous 
  plate 
  with 
  slender 
  

   postero-lateral 
  processes 
  ; 
  anterior 
  processes 
  much 
  

   expanded, 
  turned 
  inwards 
  and 
  closely 
  approximating 
  

   in 
  front, 
  and 
  confluent 
  with 
  the 
  lateral 
  wings, 
  enclos- 
  

   ing 
  a 
  small 
  fenestra 
  ; 
  thyrohyals 
  slender, 
  diverging, 
  

   narrowly 
  separated 
  from 
  each 
  other 
  at 
  the 
  base 
  ; 
  a 
  

   pair 
  of 
  slender 
  ossifications 
  in 
  front 
  of 
  the 
  thyroidals 
  

   on 
  the 
  ventral 
  side, 
  distinct 
  and 
  L-shaped 
  or 
  united 
  

   and 
  H-shaped. 
  Ceratohyal 
  cornua 
  with 
  the 
  posterior 
  

   portion 
  detached 
  from 
  the 
  hyoid 
  plate, 
  the 
  anterior 
  

   portion 
  being 
  included 
  in 
  the 
  hyoid 
  plate. 
  

  

  Vertebral 
  column 
  twice 
  or 
  a 
  little 
  less 
  than 
  twice 
  as 
  

   long 
  as 
  the 
  skull. 
  Spine 
  closed 
  above 
  ; 
  neural 
  arch 
  

   without 
  or 
  with 
  a 
  very 
  short 
  postero-median 
  pro- 
  

   cess. 
  First 
  diapophysis 
  obhquely 
  directed 
  forwards 
  ; 
  

   second, 
  third, 
  and 
  fourth 
  horizontal 
  ; 
  second 
  longest. 
  

  

  