COMMENTS BY R. BROOM 977 



Ecfo pterygoid. — I have no objections at all to this term, though I have 

 generally used the term '^transpalatine/' 



Epipterygoid and Alisplienoid} — I regard the reptilian epipterygoid 

 as homologous with the mammalian alisphenoid, and if this is ultimately 

 conclusively proven the name alisphenoid might quite well be applied to 

 the reptilian element. In the Crocodilia, Aves, Dinosauria, and Ophidia 

 there is an element which has usually been referred to as "alisphenoid," 

 but which is probably not homologous with the mammalian "alisphenoid." 

 This element is also met with in some Therapsida. Believing that it is 

 not the Alisphenoid, I have [Croonian lecture, 1913 (1914)] named it 

 otosphenoid. 



Eplotic. — Concerning this bone I can say nothing. It certainly does 

 not occur in the Therapsida nor in any group I am familiar with at first 

 hand. 



. Interfrontal. — This name, first proposed by Watson, must, I think, be 

 continued at present. It is not any part of the ethmoid, as I convinced 

 myself by sections of the skull of Eryops. It is a pure membrane bone. 

 The only doubt that arises is whether it may be homologous with the pre- 

 parietal found in so many Therapsids. Not improbably the two elements 

 are distinct. 



Lacrimal and Prefrontal. — There is, I think, no question that the lower 

 element is the mammalian lacrimal. It can be traced right back through 

 the Therapsida to the Stegocephs. 



Opisthotic or Par occipital. —Till recently I used the former, as it 

 seemed the term most generally used ; but a couple of years ago I adopted 

 the latter, as it seemed to have the better claim. 



Preangiilar or Postsplenial.^ — These two names are synonyms for the 

 element which lies behind tlie first lower element in the Stegocephalian 

 jaw. During August, 1913, I was working at the jaw of Eryops and 

 Trimerorhachis in the American Museum and discovered a new element. 

 On September 9 I posted to the Anatom. Anz. a paper describing the jaw 

 and naming the element "preangular." During August, Professor Wil- 

 liston independently discovered the same element and had photographs 

 taken of drawings, in which he named it "postsplenial." When my paper 

 was posted, I had not seen Williston's photographs, nor was I aware that 

 he was working at the Stegocephalian jaw. I first knew of Williston's 

 discovery on the 24th or 25th of September, two weeks after my paper 

 had been posted. That both Williston's drawing and mine were made 

 quite independently will be manifest from the fact that each has some 



1 Compare Watson's views below, p. 980. — Editor. 



2 Compare Williston's remarks below, p. 986. — Editor. 



