Stewart.] Cretaceous Fishes, 317 



The ethmoid is broad and Hat posteriorly, becoming thickened 

 and pointed at the anterior extremity. The lower surface can- 

 not be seen, but it probably is not materially different from that 

 of Ichthyodectes. In Prof. E. T. Newton's description of S. in- 

 termedials 76 he says, concerning this part: "Anterior to the 

 frontals, upon the upper surface of the skull, there are two 

 bones (fig. 2) separated by a median longitudinal suture; 

 towards the front of these an osseous band passes across at 

 right angles, obliterating the suture." In our skull I am un- 

 able to detect any indication of a suture at this point such as is 

 shown in the figure referred to above. I have also examined 

 all of the specimens of Xiphactinus and Ichthyodectes in the 

 museum, and find no trace of such a suture in &ny of them. 

 It seems probable to me that the skull described by Mr. Newton 

 was of a younger individual than are any of ours. 



The frontals are broad, fiat bones extending from the ethmoid, 

 with which they are united by a squamose suture, back to the 

 parietals. Laterally, they form the superior borders of the 

 orbits. In the median line they are separated by a suture. 

 The bones are probably in contact with the supraoccipital, but, 

 owing to the crushed condition of this region, this point cannot 

 be definitely determined. 



The parietals (?) are small elements in contact with the pter- 

 otics and epiotics posteriorly. They are probably very similar 

 to this portion of Xiphactinus and Tchthodectes , although this re- 

 gion of the skull is so crushed as to render the determination of 

 this portion somewhat difficult. There seems to be a faint su- 

 ture between the pterotic and sphenotic. The epiotic does not 

 seem to be produced as far backward in this species as in S. ///- 

 termedius, figured and described by Mr. Newton."' They are 

 heavy projections of bone, and form the inner lateral processes 

 of the skull as in other members of the Saurodontida and Ichthyo- 

 '"hi. Mr. Newton 80 seems somewhat in doubt about the 

 bones in this region and is unwilling to accept the bone called 

 parietal by Professor Cope, stating, for his reason, that the lines 



78. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. XXXIV. No. 135, p. 444, pi. XIX. 

 71*. 1. c. p. 144, pi. XXXIV. HO. 1. r.. pp. 444. 445. 



