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5. — On a Neio Lahyrinthodont Ehinesuchus Whaitsi, from the 

 Permian Beds of South Africa.— Bj E. Broom, M.D., D.Sc, 

 C.M.Z.S. 



(Plate XLVI.) 



In 1890 Lydekker described, under the name Eryops otveni, a lower 

 jaw from South Africa, which he thought might possibly belong to 

 the American genus Eryops. In the British Museum Catalogue 

 which appeared in the same year the name Eryops africaniis is 

 given to the same specimen. The locality of the type is unknown, 

 and no further specimens at all similar have been found till recently, 

 though it has been known for some time that the form cannot belong 

 to the genus Eryops. About two years ago I discovered at Zeekoe- 

 gat, in the Prince Albert district, a portion of a palate with large 

 numbers of minute teeth. The fragment was too minute for deter- 

 mination, though nothing like it was known in any of the previously 

 discovered African forms. Since then the Eev. Mr. J. H. Whaits, 

 of Prince Albert, who has recently devoted himself most enthusias- 

 tically to the study of fossil reptiles, has discovered near Fraserburg 

 Eoad Station many fragments of the head of a new Lahyrinthodont. 

 When put together as far as possible, there are found to be preserved 

 the greater part of the posterior end of the head, including the occi- 

 put, and the back parts of the parasphenoid (vomer) and pterygoids, 

 many fragments of the maxillary and other cranial bones and much 

 of both mandibles. Mr, Whaits' specimen is not only of importance 

 as revealing a new type of Lahyrinthodont, but also from throwing 

 light on some unknown points in the cranial structure of the group. 

 It is also interesting in belonging to the same genus as Lydekker's 

 jaw, and rendering it pretty certain that the jaw came from the 

 Lower Karroo Beds, and that it is of Permian age. 



Though it is impossible to reconstruct the skull, there can be little 

 doubt that it was of a flat type like Mastodon saur us or Capitosaurus, 

 and probably about 300 mm. in length. The upper cranial bones 

 are ornamented by a rather fine reticulation of sharp ridges. 

 Towards the centres of the bones the ridges form little deep 

 depressions, but approaching the margins the depressions become 

 elongated grooves. 



