120 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
neous so far as our purposes here are concerned. The streams scarcely flow in 
their beds, and the country is monotonously level. The locality receives about 
five inches more rain per year than either of the first two, and five inches less 
than the third, farther to the northeast.* It has not been exposed to the weather 
longer than the third, and has received less rainfall. The abundance of vegeta- 
tion is similar in the last two regions, save the fact that trees are almost wanting 
in Sumner county. Consequently we must attribute the great difference in topog- 
raphy to the presence of limestone in the one and the absence of it in the other. 
Thus there isa varied topography, which difference of structure, together with 
slight difference of climatic conditions, has produced in a comparatively level 
plain. 
NOTICE OF SOME VERTEBRATE REMAINS FROM THE KANSAS 
PERMIAN. 
By S. W. WruuistTon, Lawrence, Kan. Read before the Academy January 2, 1897. 
Some months ago numerous fragments of bones, obtained from an excavation 
of a well in Cowley county, were sent me for examination by Mr. C. N. Gould. 
The horizon whence the bones came was clearly lower Permian, not far from its 
base, as accepted by Professor Prosser, the recognized authority on the Kansas 
Permian stratigraphy. 
Not knowing whether additional material will be obtainable, I give here a 
description of some of these bones, which will be more fully illustrated in the 
future should no better specimens be secured. 
An intercentrum clearly belongs to the genus Cricotus, and is closely allied 
to the typical species described by Cope from the Permian of Illinois.t His de- 
scription applies so well to the specimen in hand that I use his language, 
amended: 
*‘The caudal intercentrum best preserved is short, discoidal in form, and 
deeper than wide. The articular faces are deeply concave, the posterior more 
strongly so, and the middle is occupied by a foramen, whose diameter is about 
equal to one-half that of the intercentrum on either side. The lateral borders of 
the posterior articular face are less rounded than the anterior ones. The chey- 
rons are slender and directed very obliquely backward, and their bases are firmly 
coossified with the intercentrum. On the superior surface two shallow pits 
occupy considerable space. They are separated by an obtuse ridge, and are bor- 
dered by a raised ridge from the polished layer of the lateral surface. Several 
phalanges of short, wide proportions show much resemblance to those of certain 
dinosaurs.’’ 
Diameter of intercentrum, vertical. .... 18 mm. 
Diameter of intercentrum, transverse.. 17 ‘‘ 
Diameter of intercentrum, longitudinal, 11 ‘“ 
Proximal width of phalanges... 12 12 13 mm. 
Proximal depth of phalanges.. 8 7 6 ‘ 
Length of phalanges.......... 14 ig eee 
Another vertebra of smaller size doubtless represents a true centrum (see 
Cope, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., XVI, p. 245). It differs very materially in having 
remote sutural surfaces for the attachment of the neural arches, in being some- 
* Rep. Board Irr. Sury. and Exp. Kan. for 1895-96, p. 195. 
t Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1875, p. 405. 
