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3. — On Some New Therocephalian Reptiles.— By R. Broom, M.D., 

 D.Sc, C.M.Z.S. 



Within the last 18 months a number of new TherocephaHans have 

 been found in the Lower Karroo Beds, which, though for the 

 most part only represented by imperfect skulls, seem woi'thy of 

 description. 



Alopecodon priscus, g. et sp. nov. 



The remains of this animal were discovered by Mr. P. H. du 

 Plessis about 9 miles north-west of Zeekoegat, in association with an 

 enormous number of shells of the genus Palcwmutela. A skeleton 

 of a small Pareiasaurus was found near by but at a slightly higher 

 level. The fossil bones had been long weathered out of the shale, 

 and were very much broken. As not infrequently happens, the 

 remains of two individuals were found close together, so that it is 

 impossible to say to which of the two skulls the fragmentary limbs 

 and vertebrae belong. One skull consists of the anterior three- 

 quarters much crushed from side to side ; the other skull is repre- 

 sented by the posterior two-thirds much crushed from above down- 

 wards. There is no conclusive proof that the two belong to the 

 same species, but by comparing the orbital, frontal, and other regions 

 preserved in both specimens it is manifest that the two are fairly 

 closely allied forms, and as they are animals of similar size and 

 found together the presumption is that they belong to the same 

 species. The specimen which shows the teeth will, of course, be 

 taken as the type. 



Though allied to other previously known TherocephaHans, 

 Alopecodon differs in having an unusually large number of incisor 

 teeth. 



The maxillary bone is of the usual shape, and the bony fibres radiate 

 out from a little behind the root of the large canine. The pre- 

 maxilla is overlapped as far as the root of the -Ith incisor. The 

 canine is very long and considerably curved. It measures 45 mm. in 



