238 
MR. W. K. PARKER OK THE STRUCTURE ARD 
hinder crus of the sinus canal ( s.c .): the rest of the squamosal will be seen from below 
( fi g- !)• 
Here there is a real additional temporal scale-bone, or supratemporal ( s.t.), but in 
those other dwarfed types—the Mole and the Shrew—the apparent second temporal 
bone was shown to be only a peculiar rambling of the prootic bone into the pterotic 
region —a part, in fact, of the chondrocranium, ossified by a periotic bony centre. 
Here, the likeness of this, the smallest of the Tenrecs to the dwarfed Shrew, is 
seen to be largely superficial; they are very wide apart, zoologically.* 
The slender hamular process of the pterygoid (pg.) can be seen passing backwards 
from the thick palatine wall, and the annulus ( ci.ty .) also comes imperfectly into view 
in this aspect. The mandible (cl.) is long, gently arched downwards, sinuous above, 
through the swelling caused by the teeth roots, and gently convex below. The 
coronoid process (c p.) is a blunt, high triangle ; the condyloid (cd.p.) is neat and 
rounded ; the angular process (figs. 3, 4, ag.p.) is slender (almost Soricine) and 
somewhat incurved, below. 
The lower view (Plate 35, fig. 1) shows a well-formed hard palate ; the maxillary 
(mx.) fits by a sharply-pointed end against the premaxillary ( px.), and the palatines 
against the maxillaries by a transverse, deeply toothed suture, in front of which each 
maxillary has a small fenestra. In front of that suture there are two, and behind it 
one, strong subtransverse ridge. The maxillaries bind against the open part of the 
palatines by a vertical plate, and the latter, after forming a strongly ribbed end to the 
hard palate, finish as a thick spongy wall to the nasopalatine passage; this is enlarged 
behind, as it narrows in, by the pterygoids with their delicate hooks; all the parts, here, 
are ankylosed together, so that the upper flange of the pterygoids is not distinguish¬ 
able from the sphenoid bones, or the palatines from the pterygoids. The hinder part 
of the main (upper) vomer (v.) is seen in the roof of the nasopalatine passage; the 
other vomers could not be exposed either in this skull or that of Ericulus (fig. 11) 
without injury to the preparation. I take it for granted that in these parts these 
two kinds agree with Centetes and Hemicentetes. The squamosal (sq.), like the 
alisphenoid ( ol.s .), is dominated by the middle part of the organ of hearing. The 
outer part of the roof of the drum-cavity is formed by a shell-like ingrowth of the 
squamosal, behind and within the reniform glenoid facet (gl.c.). 
The annulus (figs. 1 and 7, a.ty.) is strong, and well made for so small a beast, and 
has a considerable external convexity. Its rim is well-finished, its anterior crus binds 
upon and holds the processus gracilis ( p.gr .), and its posterior crus is thickened where 
it is tied to the posterior angular process ( ag.p.) of the transformed articulare. 
The end view gives the relations of the parietal to the interparietal and super- 
* There is no Soricine type as large as the Great Tenrec ( Centetes ecaudatus ), with which that large 
Insectivozv might be compared; but the largest that can be found must be worked out, and the two 
compared together, if we would know how much in our little Shrew, and in this little Microgale, is dne 
