﻿EELIS SPEL^EA. 35 



as they are sometimes called, which form on either side a wide and deep cavity on the 

 outer surface, which may be called the paramastoid fossa (<?, Pis. VIII and IX), receiving 

 the projecting sides of the glenoid cavity of the atlas, and thus combining great firmness 

 of articulation with freedom of lateral motion. It runs as far downwards as the origin of 

 the massive bony pedicle which projects downwards, and ends in the paramastoid tubercle 

 (Pis. VI, VIII, IX, d), which is homologous with the jugular tubercle in man. The par- 

 occipital articulates with the mastoid in front, and inferiorly with the tympanic ; if we 

 hold to the "vertebral theory" of the skull, as propounded by Professor Owen.it is homo- 

 logous with the parapophysis of the basi-occipital vertebra. The portion of the occipital 

 which composes the apex of the triangle, and together with the exoccipitals complete the 

 arch over the spinal cord, is the supra-occipital (Pis. VI, VII, VIII, IX, No. 3), which would 

 be the neural spine of the vertebra. Its sides are decidedly convex, while the continuation 

 on the paroccipitals is concave, so that the whole side of the triangle is distinctly sigmoid; 

 the interior and inner surface forms the back wall of the cranial cavity, and is entirely in 

 contact with the cerebellum, for the convolutions of which it is deeply grooved and waved. 

 The upper edges of the superior and outer surface are covered with high radiating ridges, 

 of great sharpness and strength circumscribing depressions of various depth, which 

 may be called the splenial fossae (PI. IX, JE), from their being the points of insertion for 

 the tendon of the great splenitis muscle. That descending from the apex, remarkable for 

 its size, serves for the attachment of the cervical ligament (ligamentum nuchas). 



The articulation of the exoccipitals with the basi-occipital has already been described in 

 our account of that bone. Each of the paroccipitals (paramastoids) covers by a broad 

 overlap the posterior end of the tympanic bulla. Above this it is firmly articulated to 

 the posterior border of the mastoid through the whole length of that bone. Above this, 

 in some individuals among the larger Feles, the supra-occipital articulates with the 

 parietal, but generally the descending process of the Wormian or interparietal passes down- 

 wards so as to join the upper part of the mastoid and prevent the connection of the parietal 

 with both the ex- and the supra-occipital. The suture with the Wormian is of great 

 depth in the aged animals of the larger Feles, owing to the great height of the lambdoid 

 or occipital crest. In advanced age the whole of the lambdoid suture is obliterated, 

 and its position is marked by a very sharp and massive crest, the lambdoid or supra- 

 occipital. 



Ligaments and Muscles of Occiput. — Avery detailed account of the muscles and liga- 

 ments of Felis are given in Straus-Durckheim's great work, 1 to which we would refer 

 those who wish to become acquainted with the details of this part of the subject. We 

 shall content ourselves with giving a list of the principal ligaments and muscles, with their 



1 'Anatomie, descriptive et comparative, du chat, par Hercule Straus-Durckheim,' 2 vols. 4to, plates 

 folio, Paris, 1845. This work is perhaps the most perfect monograph on the comparative anatomy of a 

 single animal that exists in any language. 



