III. On the comparative anatomy of the auditory ossicles of the mammalia

Abstract The following observations have been made during the preparation of a series of the small ear-bones of the higher Vertebrata for the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, an undertaking which was commenced in the autumn of 1874, and is in the course of rapid enlargement up to the present date. The foundation of the entire series was a small collection of the osseous auditory apparatus of the domestic and common indigenous animals of Germany, purchased by the College of Dr. Max Hübrich, of Munich, a few years since. Following the suggestions of the Conservator, Professor W. H. Flower, F. R. S., the author succeeded in removing from the crania of mammals in the College Museum a sufficient number of auditory ossicula to illustrate the characters of those bones in most of the important subdivisions of that class of vertebrated animals. Numerous additions from rare specimens have been obtained through the kindness of Sir Victor Brooke, Bart., Professor Parker, Professor A. H. Garrod, and other gentlemen.