310 



University of California Publications. 



[Geology 



From the side of the skull, with the sphenoidal rostrum in 

 a horizontal plane, the highest point of the skull dome is seen 

 to be in front of the posterior border of the orbit; and the 

 slope from this point, both backward and forward, is - very grad- 

 ual. The skulls of recent - falconids and cathartids examined 



4 



Q 



Figs. 3 and 4. Teratomis merriami. Eeeonstruetion of the skull based 

 upon accurate drawings of cranial fragment 12001 and beak fragment 

 12507; X y-2, ■ Missing parts are represented in dotted lines. Fig. 3, skull 

 from above; fig. 4, skull from right side. A, postauditory prominence; C, 

 cerebellar protuberance; F, postfrontal process; J, jugal bar; L, orbital 

 portion of lachrymal; 7, descending lamella of lachrymal; M, masseteric 

 depression; N, nostril; 0, optic foramen; p, basipterygoid process; Q, quad- 

 rate ; T, toniial edge. 



show the highest point of the skull to be farther back and in a 

 much more pronounced curve. The descending process of the 

 lachrymal does not reach the level of the sphenoidal rostrum 

 (fig. 4). This condition in Cathartidae gives rise to an upward 



