SKULL OF THE OX AS A WHOLE 141 



and at the lateral angles the "horn cores" project in horned cattle. The 

 nasal part is very short. The osseous nasal aperture is wide. The premaxillaj 

 do not bend downward r.s in the horse; they are relatively thin and weak, 

 and are separated by an interval which has a wide anterior part in place of 

 the foramen incisivum. 



The lateral surface (Fig. 129) is more triangular than in the horse. The temporal 

 fossa IS confined to this surface. It is deep and narrow, anil its boundaries are more 

 complete. It is limited dorsally by a crest which extends from the postero-lateral 

 angle of the frontal bone to the supraorbital process, and is analogous to the pari- 

 etal crest of the horse. It is bounded behind by the temporal crest. It is clearly 

 marked off from the orbit by a rounded ridge and the pterygoid crest. The zygo- 

 matic arch is short, weak, and flattened, and is formed by the temporal and malar 

 only. Its condyle is convex and is wide from before backward. The glenoid cavity 

 and postglenoid process are small. The orbit is encroached upon below by the 

 lacrimal bulla, and presents the orifice of the supraorbital canal behind. The or- 

 bital margin is completed behind by the frontal process of the malar; its lower part 

 is prominent and rough, not smooth and rounded as in the horse. The pterygo- 

 palatine fossa is much larger, deeper, and more clearly defined. It has a long nar- 

 row recess between the vertical plate of the palate bone medially and the maxilla 

 and lacrimal bulla laterally; thus the sphenopalatine and maxillary foramina are 

 deeply placed. The preorbital region is short but relatively high. A tuberosity 

 and curved line correspond to the facial crest of the horse. The infraorbital fora- 

 men is situated above the first cheek tooth and is often double. 



The basal surface (Fig. 132) is short and wide, especially in its cranial part. The 

 occipital condyles are limited in front by transverse ridges. The basilar tubercles at 

 the junction of the occipital and sphenoid are large. The condyloid fossae contain two 

 foramina, the hypoglossal below and in front, and the condyloid above and behind ; 

 other inconstant ones occur. The paramastoid processes are short and convergent. 

 The foramen lacerum is slit-like. The bulla ossea is a large, laterally compressed 

 prominence. The muscular processes are usually long and narrow triangular plates, 

 with one or two sharp points. The external acoustic process is directed almost 

 straight outward. A curved plate extends ventrally from it and joins the bulla 

 ossea medially, completing the deep cavity which receives the articular angle of 

 the hyoid bone. The chief external opening of the temporal canal is in front of 

 this plate, and an accessory one lies behind it. The infratemporal fossa is small, 

 and presents the foramen ovale. The posterior nares are very narrow, and the 

 vomer does not reach to the level of their ventral margin. The hard palate is wide, 

 and forms about three-fifths of the entire length of the skull. A small central part 

 only of its posterior border enters into the formation of the posterior nares; the 

 lateral parts are notched and just above them are the posterior palatine foramina. 

 The anterior palatine foramina are an inch or more from the posterior margin, 

 and about the same distance apart. The palatine grooves are distinct for a short 

 distance only. Just beyond the cheek teeth the palate narrows and becomes con- 

 cave; beyond this it widens and flattens. 



The nuchal surface is extensive and somewhat pentagonal in outline in the 

 adult. About its center is the external occipital protuberance for the attachment 

 of the ligamentum nuchse. From this a median occipital crest extends toward the 

 foramen magnum, and laterally two lines (Lines nuchse superiores) curve outward, 

 marking the upper limit of the area which is roughened for muscular attachment. 

 The surface above the lines is relatively smooth, and is covered only by the skin 

 and the thin auricular muscles in the living animal. It is separated from the 

 frontal surface by a thick border, which forms centrally the frontal eminence, and 

 bears at its extremities the processus cornus — except in the polled breeds. The con- 

 dyles are further apart, and the articular surfaces are more clearly divided into 



