In very young animals the predominance of the strongly arched
cranium over the countenance is apparent, and the increase of size in
the latter occurs gradually (Fig. 23).
[Illustration: Fig. 22.--Skull of middle-aged female orang.]
The anterior nares are narrow at the top, and wide at their base. They
are more decidedly pear-shaped (_Apertura pyriformis_) than those of
the gorilla and chimpanzee. In the latter animals these apertures are
generally wider and more uniformly rounded. Bischoff justly observes
that the bony part below the orbits, which in the gorilla is wide
above, tapering away in the lower part of the face, is narrower and
more vertical in the orang. The nasal bones of the orang are high and
of moderate width. Brühl mentions the styloid process of the orang’s
skull, which is, however, somewhat abortive when we compare it with
that of the human skull. It has its origin in a tolerably deep groove.
On the other hand, Brühl, as we have already observed, can find no
trace of the styloid process in the skulls of the gorilla and the
chimpanzee![19]
[Illustration:
Fig. 23.--Skeleton of young orang-utan. _a_, Sternum. _b_,
Radius. _c_, Ulna. _d_, Tibia. _e_, Metacarpus. _f_, Phalanges.
_g_, Great toe. _h_, Fibula. _j_, Hip-bones. _k_, Coccyx. _l_,
Vertebral column. _m_, Scapula. _n_, Femur.
]
There are many large-celled bony cavities in the orang’s skull. These
may be observed in the greater wings and pterygoid processes of the
sphenoid bone, in the mastoid and squamous parts of the temporal
bones, in the lachrymal bones, in the body, and in the condyles of
the occipital bone, and in the zygomatic arch. The larger fore-cells
on the squamous part of the temporal bones are connected by a wide
aperture with the sinuses of the greater wings and pterygoid processes
of the sphenoid bone. A sinus which may be observed on the greater wing
generally communicates by a large round hole with the temporal cells.
There is generally, but not always, a communication between the sinuses
of the greater wing and pterygoid process and the nasal cavity. These
cavities sometimes communicate with each other through a wide aperture
at the base of the nose. The squamous part of the temporal bones has
a cellular sinus, which communicates with the cells of the mastoid
process, in its lower part with the tympanum, and in its fore-part with
the ossicles of the lower wall of the tympanum. The maxillary sinuses
are in connection with the cells of the lachrymal bone. There is
nothing in the orang’s skull corresponding to the Vidian canal of the
sphenoid bone, but it may be traced in the gorilla and the chimpanzee.
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