On Some Points in the Structure, of the Dicynodont Skull. 339 



sexes ; but I know of no characters other than the presence or 

 absence of tusks to distinguish Dicynodon and Oudenodon. The 

 arrangement of bones and sutures, even to minute details, appears to 

 be identical. Then the difficulty of determining the species is 

 enhanced by the fact that many of Owen's types are indeterminable, 

 since the points which appear to be most variable and on which 

 species might be distinguished are often lost from the types. 



The present specimen I have compared with all the known 

 determinable species of Dicynodon and Oudenodon, and conclude 

 that it is distinct from all previously described species. It 

 approaches a number in various ways, but only with three species 

 might it be confused. Oudenodon baini, Owen, agrees with it fairly 

 closely, but differs in having the tusk-like maxillary process passing 

 more downwards, and in having the parietal region considerably 

 wider than the frontal, besides in a number of minor characters. 

 Oudenodon prognathus, Owen, differs in the peculiar manner in which 

 the prominent ridge of the maxilla is directed forwards and in the 

 smaller size of the nasal bosses. Oudenodon brevirostris, Owen, 

 differs in the contour of the frontal and parietal regions. 



As the species is evidently new, I should have been delighted to 

 have named it after Prof. Seeley, who has done so much valuable 

 work on the South African fossil reptiles, but unfortunately Broili 

 has recently associated Seeley's name with Dicynodon, and a species 

 which is certainly synonymous with one of Owen's types. Some 

 years ago a number of fossil bones were got near Middelburg and 

 sent to the South African Museum. Dr. Corstorphine, who, as 

 director of the Geological Survey, had charge of the specimens, 

 thought evidently there would be no harm in sending a few of the 

 bones to Europe, but fortunately he kept the skull. The bones sent 

 to Europe included a beautiful pelvis, but why any European 

 palaeontologist should think of making a pelvis of an Anomodont 

 the type of a new species passes my comprehension. At the best 

 it could only cause confusion. In this case, fortunately, we know 

 the skull, and it is identical with Owen's Ptychognathus boops* 

 Whether Ptychognathus boops is itself a synonym of Dicynodon 

 murrayi, Huxley, it is at present impossible to say, but quite 

 certainly Dicynodon seeleyi, Broili, is not a new species. As the 

 present skull cannot be called after Prof. Seeley, I propose to name 

 it after Father F. C. Kolbe, D.D., who has taken such a prominent 

 part in educational and scientific work at the Cape and to whom we 

 owe the skull, and to call it Oudenodon kolbci. 



The general shape of the skull is shown in the figures when 



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