1876.] the Skull in the Urodelous Amphibia. 



337 



to carry the head, an imperfect vertebra with a broad fore end : in the 

 adult {Spelerjipes, Triton) this joint has coalesced with the head-carrying 

 vertebra, and forms its odontoid process ; it then resembles the true 

 odontoid process of an ox or sheep. 



I cannot refrain from coupling the facts above given with another, 

 namely, that the " hypoglossal " is a spinal nerve in these and other 

 Iclithyopsida. That the fore end of the notochord should vary in the 

 cranium of different types of Yertebrata is not to be wondered at ; the 

 two evanescent vertebral rudiments in the hind cranium of the TJrodeles 

 and the intercalary joint may be set over against what I have lately 

 made out in the Selachians. 



In the Sharks the cartilage on each side of the notochord in the neck 

 (itself ensheathed in cartilage) is some time before it breaks up into the 

 moieties of centra, and these do not correspond in number with the 

 neural arches. 



In the Eays we have a similar state of things ; but I cannot discover 

 any segmentation of the cervical parachordal tracts, even in young 

 unhatched skates that have acquired their final form. 



In this very imperfect ahstract I have made mention of those things 

 that have produced the greatest effect upon my own mind, not caring 

 so much for order as for suggestiveness. A true theory of the skull does 

 not yet exist ; it draws near, however, to the time of its delivery. 



November 30, 1876. 



ANNIYEESAET MEETINO. 



Dr. J. DALTON HOOKER, C.B., President, in the Chair. 



General Smythe, for the Auditors of the Treasurer's Accounts on the 

 part of the Society, reported that the total receipts during the past 

 year, including a balance of £245 carried from the preceding year, amount 

 to .£17,895 135. lid. ; and that the total expenditure iu the same period 

 amounts to £17744 155., lea™g a balance at the Bankers' of £126 155., 

 and £24 3s. lid. iu the hands of the Treasurer. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to the Treasurer and Au- 

 ditors. 



2b2 



