1899] VERTEBRATE PALAEOXTOLOGY 159 



tion of the Fishes (page 27) is entirely unnatural, as it fails to set forth the 

 phylogenetic relations of the Fishes, and confuses the student as to the types 

 which are actually most nearly allied. 



Passing to the Amphibia, it may be noted (p. 125) that among the chief 

 distinctions of the Stegocephalia, the paired condyle is not mentioned. This 

 is very important, because the condyle furnishes one of the only means of 

 separating these animals from the Pareiasauria. Upon p. 142 the author 

 gives a very clear conception of what at the present time appears to be the 

 natural grouping of the Reptilia, but the tabular classification upon p. 1-11 

 hardly conforms with the conceptions there set forth. It appears to the 

 reviewer evident that the Pareiasauria, with their solid skulls, entirely lacking 

 temporal fossae (except perhaps in Procolophon), should be sharply set apart 

 from the Anomodontia. As regards the use of the term Anomodontia in 

 preference to Cope's " Theromorpha," it may be pointed out that it was 

 originally defined and repeatedly used by Owen to include the Dicynodonts 

 only, and it can scarcely be stretched to include the Theriodonts, with their 

 complete dentition, and much less the Pareiasauria with no arcades at all. In 

 the diagrams and subsequent treatment of the temporal arches, the lower arch 

 is referred to as if it represented a concrescence of both upper and lower 

 arches. This is certainly the case in the Ichthyosauria, but not so certainly in 

 the other types. It appears undesirable to perpetuate Cope's term " Pythono- 

 morpha," because Cope wholly failed to substantiate his claim in opposition to 

 Owen, that these animals were in any way i*elated to the Ophidia. Their 

 entire structure tends to support the theory of Owen, Dollo, and Baur, that 

 they branched off from well-defined Lizards quite independently of the Snake 

 phylum. 



Another surprising feature in this work is the entire absence of mention of the 

 important group of Placodontia, animals which are ordinarily placed among the 

 anomodont reptiles, fine examples of which are found in the British Museum. No 

 reference is made either to Aetosaurus, important and interesting because it shows 

 the complete dermal armature of the Belodont type. It is important to note, 

 however, that the author throughout his treatment of the Reptilia shows a 

 very clear and critical perception of the relations of different types, and makes 

 many original suggestions of value. While retaining Belodon among the 

 Crocodilia, he strongly hints at its relations with the Dinosauria, as observed 

 by Fraas, and one cannot compare the fine remains of Belodon and Zanclodon 

 in the Stuttgart collection without being struck by the strong resemblance 

 between the two. 



It should be made clear, in closing, that the above discussion of the work 

 has hardly left space in which to point out its many valuable qualities. It 

 will find its way into every laboratory where Vertebrate Anatomy is being 

 studied, and will serve to emphasise more strongly than ever the principle for 

 which Huxley and Cope so long contended, that Vertebrate Anatomy is only 

 comprehensible by the light of Palaeontology : that the only difference between 

 the fossil and recent animal is that one has been dead longer than the other. 



H. F. O. 



The Rabbit. By J. E. HARTING. 8vo, pp. viii. + 256. Illustrations. 

 London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1898. Price 5s. 



This volume of the "Fur, Feather, and Fin Series" is a welcome addition 

 to the literature of natural history and field sports. It will readily find its 

 place on the book-shelves of sportsmen and naturalists, and will be of much 

 service to gamekeepers and others interested in this useful though mischievous 

 rodent. Much ignorance prevails, even amongst those who ought to know 

 better, regarding the habits and peculiarities of the rabbit, and the intricacies 

 of the law in dealing with the drastic provisions of that ill-advised anil dis- ' 



