TRIASSIC FISHES FROM SPIl'ZBERGEN 
6x 
cerned with the inner opening of the canal of the nerve. From this opening the canal 
probably had its course obliquely posteriorly and laterally through the cartilaginous 
part of the lateral wall of the labyrinth region, and the outer opening would consequently 
be situated more caudally than the inner one. On the other hand the foramen vagi 
cannot be localized with any degree of certainty, as I have also 
sufficiently shown above. 
In the ethmoidal region we find poorly preserved remains 
of a paired bone ( Pethm, text figs. 19, 23 ; PI. 7, figs. 1, 3 ), 
which, as I think I can show in the description of Axelia 
robusta, represents the so-called preethmoid (septomaxillary, 
Allis, 1897 a, PI. XXI, figs. 8 — 10; 1898, pp. 446—450; 1909 a, 
pp. 17 — 22; SaGEMEHL, 1884, p.204; SwiNNERTON, ig02, pp. 53 o— 
532). It is impossible to say anything as to the shape of this 
bone in the species in question. It is partly covered on the 
ventral side by the parasphenoid and seems medially to reach 
the median line pretty closely or altogether; it has thus perhaps 
entered into connection with the corresponding bone on the 
other side (text fig. 23 ). Otherwise by far the greater part of 
the ethmoidal region has been composed of cartilage. 
The membrane bones of the neurocranium. 
The ventral side of the neurocranium is covered for a 
considerable part by a large, broad parasphenoid ( Psph , text 
figs. 19,20,22,23; PI. 4, fig. 2, PI. 7, figs. 1— 3 ). This is situated 
chiefly under the orbitotemporal region, but reaches also to 
the front under the ethmoidal region and, although only to 
a trifling extent, backwards under the anterior part of the 
labyrinth region. At its anterior extremity it is obtusely pointed, 
at its posterior end it is truncated. It is broadest in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the former end, from which it grows gradually 
narrower backwards, to about the place between the first 
and second quarter of its length measured from behind, to 
increase again somewhat in breadth in the hindmost quarter. 
The centre of ossification about corresponds in its position to 
the narrowest part of the bone. 
A transverse section through the parasphenoid taken in front of the centre of 
ossification shows a horizontal, thick median part, and thinner dorsally inflected lateral 
parts (text fig. 24 A). The thickening of the median part appears exclusively upon the 
ventral side of the bone, and as this thickening is sharply bounded laterally and also 
carries small teeth it becomes a prominent feature of the bone. Behind the centre of 
ossification, on the contrary, a transverse section shows a somewhat different appearance 
(text fig. 24 B). In this part the bone is convex from side to side on the ventral 
surface and correspondingly concave on the dorsal surface. The median part is not 
thickened, or only slightly so in relation to the lateral parts. 
Wimania sinuosa n. sp. 
Parasphenoid, prootico-opisthotic, 
preethmoid and autopalatine, in 
ventral aspect. From P. 25 7. 5 / 4 . 
Aup, autopalatine; Pethm, pre¬ 
ethmoid ; Pro.o, prootico-opisthotic; 
Psph, parasphenoid; c, posterior 
process from the corpus of the 
prootico-opisthotic. 
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