
292 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. . [Vor. XXXVI. 
been described. I have met with it in the skulls of whites 
as well as in those of Indians. It is a rare condition, 
much more rare in the Indians than the divisions in the pos- 
terior portion of the malar. Thus far I have found no speci- 
men which would offer an explanation of 
the significance of this superior incisure. 
Occasionally, as in the specimen illustrated 
in the accompanying figure, it is in a curv- 
‘ing line with several malar foramina. 
In my examination for malar divisions I 
came across three specimens which may prove 
of interest in connection with this paper. 
In looking over the few bear skulls in the collection in the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York), I found one 
with a peculiar anomaly present on both sides. Both malar 
bones in this specimen show a partial separation of the frontal 
process, but no other division. There is, however, on each 
side a complete separation, by a previous, well-serrated suture, 
of that portion of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone 
which covers the temporal process of the malar (Fig. 12). 
The two other specimens are human malars (Nos. 1068 and 
1069, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York), one of 
which shows the marks of a complete, the other those of an 
incomplete, vertical fracture. Both of these malars 
present a pronounced depression 
over their tem- _ 
poral portion. 
Fic. 11. 

Fig. 12: 
Fic. 13. Fic. 14. 
Some force was undoubtedly applied to this point, and the malar 
bone was fractured over and along the line of the internal malo- 
maxillary articulation. The border of the maxillary articular 
surface acted as a fulcrum over which the bone broke. There 
is no callus formation, and both cases. bear some resemblance to 
a malar suture (Figs. 13 and 14). 
