24 AMERICAN PERMIAN VERTEBRATES 



or less exposed and the bones somewhat weathered. This skeleton 

 lies in the most orderly relations, with all its parts in close articula- 

 tion, save such as had been disturbed by gravitation. It is with- 

 out break, at least as far as the proximal third of the tail; some of 

 the smaller caudal vertebrae may be missing, but, fortunately, the 

 tail seems to be quite complete in the other specimen. This more 

 perfect specimen (No. 8n), which may be considered the type of 

 the species, was found among unpacked material only a few weeks 

 before my departure from New Haven became necessary, and its 

 preparation had not been quite completed. When fully worked 

 out from the matrix and prepared for exhibition, it will be one of 

 the most notable specimens of a reptile ever obtained from the 

 Permian deposits of America. 



The skeleton is evidently that of an animal which had died 

 peacefully in some pool or body of water undisturbed by waves 

 or currents; nor does it show any indications of extraneous forces. 

 The animal at death rested with its ventral side downward upon a 

 hard bottom, since all the bones had fallen, so far as was possible 

 with their natural articulations, to a level, as is the case with fossils 

 preserved in marine deposits. The skull and limbs are in perfect 

 articulation, the vertebral column curved gently to the left, the 

 pectoral and pelvic girdles intact and in position, and with all the 

 bones of the limbs closely articulated, so far as they are preserved, 

 at least, save a few of the terminal phalanges. The sacral vertebra 

 is attached to the ilia, but the vertebrae immediately preceding 

 and succeeding it had fallen to the level of the pubes and ischia. 

 As the specimen lies in place it measures three feet four inches to 

 the hind end of the ischia, while the articulated or nearly articulated 

 tail of No. 809 has a length of forty inches to where the centra meas- 

 ure ten millimeters in diameter. Yet smaller, unarticulated verte- 

 brae among the unassociated material indicate a possible length of 

 the tail of forty-four or forty-five inches, or a total length for the 

 the skeleton of about eighty-four inches. 



Skull. — The skull of Limnoscelis paludis is remarkable in many 

 respects, and fortunately this part of the specimen which serves 

 as the type is noteworthy for its completeness and perfection of 

 preservation. Like the remainder of the skeleton, with which it 



