Fariasaums. 63 



Fariasaurus homhidens was obtained by Mr. Bain fVoni tlie Gallery, 

 reptiliferons Triassic sandstone near the Winterberg, Cape No. 4. 

 Colony. The teeth are close-set, fused with the bone ; they ^^l]^^^^' 

 resemble those of the Iguanodon in their mode of implantation, G-lass-case, 

 and those of the Scelidosaurus in their close arrang'ement and ^^« 

 nearly uniform wear. The degree of abrasion indicates, as in Wall-case^ 

 the Iguanodon, that they were applied to the mastication of °' 

 vegetable substances. 



Fifteen or sixteen teeth are closely set on each side of both 

 the upj)er and lower jaws. As in man, there is no diastema in 

 the dental series, no one tooth is longer than the rest. But 

 thei-e is still greater uniformity in the teeth of this ancient 

 reptile. There is absolutely no character by which to separate 

 the incisors, or canines, or false or true molars. All the teeth 

 are equally worn, and show by their abraded border that they 

 have taken an equal sliare in the pounding- as well as the crop- 

 ping of the vegetable food upon which the animal subsisted. 

 It may be added that the palate also bears several rows of small 

 teeth. 



The animal measures fully nine feet in length, and the 

 shape of its skull and jaAvs are remarkably like those of the 

 Labyrinthodont Batrachia. 



Two examples of the skeleton of Pariasaurus are exhibited 

 iu a glass-case (marked Ji), at the west-end of Gallery, No. 4. - 



A still finer skeleton of another species, P. Baini (Seeley), 

 from the Karoo Formation of Tamboer Fontein, Cape Colony, 

 is placed in Glass-case L. (Fig. 84). 



Professor Seeley concludes that this very remarkable and 

 Amphibian-like reptile is a direct descendant from the Lab}'- 

 rinthodonts ; the chief affinities to that group being" displayed 

 in the characters of the skull, in the uotochordal canal, and the 

 large arches of the vertebrae, as well as in the characters of the 

 pectoral and pelvic girdles. The latter features, together 

 with the general structure of the palate, being identical with 

 those of typical Anomodonts, there appears every reason for 

 referring this family to a sub-order of that group. 



