1892.] 21 i [f^ope 



cervical vertebrae which are continuous with tlie centra. (5) The par- 

 tially open chevron bones, which are also continuous with the centra. 

 (G) The sublongitudinal ileopeclineal bone and absence of other pelvic 

 elements. 



There is agreement in various subordinate features, as the single pre- 

 maxillary, double frontal, and single parietal ; and the absence of supra- 

 temporal bone ; also the fusion of the surangular and articular bones. 

 There are some differences to be noted. Thus, in some of the Amphisbce- 

 nia at least, there is apparently an orbitosphenoid bone, which is wanting 

 in Anniella. The pterygoid is more closely adherent to the basis cranii 

 in the Amphisbsiinia, and there is no palatine foramen, which is present 

 in Anniella. The splenlal is of full size in Anniella and the Meckelian 

 groove is open. In the Amphisbsenia the groove is closed and the splen- 

 lal is much reduced. 



The presence of scales, the papillose tongue and the distinct tegumentary 

 eye fissure, with the characters above cited, define the Anniellidaeas a very 

 distinct family of the Amphisbania. 



Rhinetjra. Cope. 



A specimen of the R. floridana Baird from Volusia, Fla., furnishes the 

 characters of the skeleton. 



The alveolar border of the premaxillary is very short, and supports 

 only one, a median tooth. The spine is divided into two portions, that 

 below the projecting angle of the muzzle and that above it. The former 

 is contracted a little by a process of the maxillary which enters from the 

 alveolar portion, separating it from the nostril, which is inferior in posi- 

 tion. It then expands a little, to form on the upper side of the muzzle a 

 terminal expansion twice as wide as long. The nasals are distinct, and 

 extend to the border of the muzzle, overroofing the nostrils. Frontals 

 wide, distinct, deeply emarginate posteriorly for the parietal. Prefrontal 

 rather large, triangular, sending its apex posteriorly over the orbit and 

 reaching the parietal. Its free border and a narrow band of the parietal 

 form a crista temporalis, which do not unite on the middle line into a 

 crista sagittalis. Parietal single, without pineal foramen, continuous lat- 

 erally with the petrosal and alisphenoid, and posteriorly with the supra- 

 occipital, from which it receives on the middle line a gomphosis. Supra- 

 occipital bounding foramen magnum, of which it forms a rather narrow 

 border. A small triangular bone at the extremity of the maxillary may 

 be a jugal or a lachrymal. The alisphenoid and petrosal form the inferior 

 part of the side walls of the brain case, and are separated from the ptery- 

 goids and presphenoid below them by a narrow fissure which is widest 

 below the petrosal. The latter sends an angle upwards and backwards be- 

 tween the parietal and exoccipital. The exoccipital sends a prolongation 

 (paroccipital ?) downwards and forwards, which gives articulation to the 

 quadrate, bounding the fenestra ovale above. The latter is large and is 

 closed by the large disk of the stapes. The quadrate has no posterior 



