636 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



Zoo/. Soc. 1914, pp. 995-1010) of Broomia perplexa, a small primi- 

 tive reptile from the South African Mesozoics which may be 

 related to the lizard-like Arceoscelis. In the same communication 

 a new genus is proposed for the so-called Protorosaurus huxleyi. 



The discovery in the Permian of Beaufort West of a well- 

 preserved skull of the gigantic amphibian-like reptiles of the 

 group typified by Pariasaurus has enabled Mr. Watson {Proc. 

 Zool. Soc. 1914, pp. 155-80) to amplify and correct our knowledge 

 of the structure of the palate and cranial roof. The palate, which 

 is covered with an armature of small, sharp teeth, differs from 

 the primitive reptilian type merely by the foreward extension 

 of the pterygoids over the prevomers to articulate with the 

 premaxillae — a peculiarity which may be purely adaptive. In 

 the skull-roof the main peculiarity is the presence of only a 

 single element between the quadrato-jugal and tabulare ; this 

 element probably representing the mammalian squamosal. 



As regards the systematic position and affinities of the genus, 

 the author confirms the opinion that it has much in common 

 with amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. It is, however, a 

 true reptile, referable to the group Cotylosauria, in which are 

 also included Seymouria, Diadectes, Procolophon, and Pariotichus. 

 But there is only a step from such a generalised reptilian type 

 to stegocephalian amphibians (and so to crossopterygian fishes), 

 the sole points of difference between cotylosaurians and tem- 

 nospondylous amphibians being the reduction of the vertebral 

 intracentra, the expanded and thickened neural arches, the 

 horizontal plane of the articulating facets of the vertebral zyga- 

 pophyses, and the reduction of the bones in the upper row of 

 the tarsus to two. 



In a rather later communication {Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. op. cit. 

 pp. 98-102) the same author proposes a reclassification of the 

 pariasaurian group : Pariasaurus itself being restricted to the 

 relatively small P. serridens, to which Propappus is nearly 

 related. Anthodon and the new genera Bradysaurus (typified 

 by the skeleton in the British Museum originally described as 

 Pariasaurus baini) and Embrithosaurus are larger forms. 



In yet another paper {Proc. Zool. Soc. 1914, pp. 749-86) Mr. 

 Watson reviews the entire group of mammal-like reptiles, for 

 which he suggests the name Therapsida, although acknowledging 

 that the earlier terms Anomodontia and Theromora have claims 

 to recognition. In this great group or stem he includes at least 



