LYSOROPHUS, A PERMIAN URODELE. 237 



be classed with any of the divisions of the so-called Stegocephalia 

 is quite as evident as its exclusion from the Reptilia ; and upon 

 the ribs alone the formation of a new order of Amphibia would 

 not be at all justified. 



That the genus represents a distinct family of the Urodela is 

 of course obvious. Broili, under the erroneous supposition that 

 it is a reptile of the order Rhynchocephalia gave to it the name 

 Paterosauridre, to indicate its " paternal " relationship with the 

 reptiles. But this name was chosen in direct contravention of 

 the rules of zoological nomenclature, since it is not represented 

 by a genus in the group, and since any one is at entire liberty to 

 apply the stem as a generic name in another group. The name 

 is not tenable, and should be replaced by Lysorophidae. 



The condition in which the remains of so many of these 

 animals are found, numerous series intermingled in vertical and 

 lateral curves, is I think conclusive evidence that death overtook 

 the creatures in the drying up of ponds and pools of water. 

 That the animals were snake-like in life is of course proven by 

 the long connected series of vertebrae of nearly uniform size. 

 That they had but feeble power of sight is also assured by 

 the very small size of the eyes. That they were perenni- 

 branchiate is I believe also extremely probable from the large 

 size of the branchiae, and the manner in which these creatures 

 represented by their known remains met their death. Doubtless 

 also they were bare skinned and more or less mud burrowing in 

 habit. That Lysophonis stood in direct ancestral relationship to 

 such forms as Necturus or Proteus is rather improbable, but that 

 it was very close of kin to the ancestors of these forms I do 

 believe to be very probable, 



Salamander-Like Footprints from the Texas Red Beds. 



(Fig. 4-) 

 Recently, Miss Augusta Hasslock, of the Abilene, Texas, High 

 School, has had the kindness to send me a number of thin red 

 shales showing abundant markings of raindrops, worm or other 

 tracks and footprints which must have been made by some sala- 

 mander-like creatures of small size. The horizon is assumed to 

 be Permian, but the fact that the shales occur not far below the 



