XIII 



PHYLUM CHORDATA 



191 



*■'■-& 



850, s. t.) is very deep and inclined backwards; on the ventral 

 surface of the basis cranii is a pit {pt.) for the extra-cranial portion 

 of the pituitary body. The posterior portion of the cranial cavity 

 is very high ; the anterior part — containing most of the fore-brain — 

 is low and tunnel-like, and has above it a cavity of almost equal 

 size (Nv. 5 o'.) for the ophthalmic branches of the fifth nerves. 

 The greater part of the membranous labyrinth is lodged in a 

 series of pits on the side-walls of the cranium (a.s.c, p.s.c), and is 

 separated from the brain by membrane only. The occipital region 

 articulates with the verte- 

 bral column by a single 

 saddle-shaped surface or 

 condyle (oc. en.). There is a 

 great development of labial 

 cartilages, particularly 

 noticeable being a large 

 plate which, in Callorhyn- 

 chus, lies just externally to 

 the mandible, nearly equal- 

 ling it in size and having 

 the appearance of a second- 

 ary or external jaw. lu 



Callorhynchus the snout is 



supported by three cartilagi- 

 nous rods growing forward 



from the cranium, of which 



one (r.) is median and dorsal 



and repiesents the rostrum ; 



these, as well as the great 



lower labial are represented 



by comparatively small 



structures in Chimsera (Fig. 



849,Z6.3). 



The hyoid resembles the 



branchial arches in form and 



is little superior to them in 



size. Above the epihyal 



(Fig. 849, 6. hy.) is a small 



cartilage [ph. hy.), evidently serially homologous with the pharyngo- 



branchlals, and therefore to be considered as a 'pharyngohyal. 



It represents 'the hyomandibular of Elasmobranchs, but, having 



no function to perform in the support of the jaws, it is no 



larger than the corresponding segments in the succeeding arches. 



Long cartilaginous rays {ffp. r.) for the support of the operculum 



are attached to the ceratohyal. 



The first dorsal fin is remarkable for having all its pterygio- 



phoi'es fused into a single plate, which articulates with the 



B 



inl 



—It.r 



Fig. 84S.— Cliimaera monstrosa. A, transverse 

 section of the vertebral column ; B, lateral view of 

 the same. c. r. calcified ring ; li. r. haimal ridge ; 

 int. intercalary piece ; n. a. neural arch ; nch. 

 position of notochordal tissue ; nch. sh. sheath of 

 notochord ; n. sp. neural spine. (After Hasse.) 



