The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammaliaOwen, Richard
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 1 of 5] : $b Fossil mammalia
Owen, Richard
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Mammals, Fossil; Paleontology -- South America; Zoology
The anterior extremity is obliquely truncated from below upwards and
forwards, and presents a flattened triangular surface indicative of its
junction with an os malæ: the space between this extremity and the side
of the cranium measures one inch and nine lines across, and thus gives
us the thickness of the temporal muscle. The distance from the origin of
the zygoma to the occipital plane is relatively greater than in
_Orycteropus_; _Glossotherium_ is in this respect more similar to
_Myrmecophaga_ and _Manis_.
The sphenoid bone forms a somewhat smooth protuberance below and behind
the base of the _zygoma_. The tympanic bone is wedged in between this
protuberance in front, and the mastoid process behind. The chief
peculiarity of the broad mastoid is the regular semicircular cavity at
its under part for the articulation of the styloid bone of the tongue.
This depression is separated below by a broad rough protuberance from
the foramen jugulare, (_f_, fig. 2, Pl. XVI,) which is immediately
external to, and slightly in advance of the great foramen condyloideum,
_c_. A small rugged portion of the os petrosum separates the jugular
from the carotid canal, which arches upwards and directly inwards to the
side of the shallow sella turcica, (the external and internal orifices
of the carotid canal are shown at _g_, figs. 2 and 3). The chief
protuberance on the basis cranii is a large and rugged one, serving for
the attachment of muscles, and due chiefly to the expansion of a great
sinus in the body of the sphenoid. This protuberance is separated from
the smaller sphenoid protuberance before mentioned by a large groove
continued downwards and forwards from the tympanic cavity, and
containing the Eustachian tube, which does not traverse a complete
osseous canal. Immediately internal to the glenoid cavity is the large
orifice of the canal transmitting the third division of the fifth pair
of nerves, the principal branch of which endows the tongue with
sensibility; this foramen (_h_, fig. 2) is rather less than that for the
muscular nerve of the tongue.
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