THE TRIASSIC PERIOD. 217 
surface of the body was protected by an armour of bony plates. 
Some of the Triassic Labyrinthodonts must have attained 
dimensions utterly unapproached amongst existing Amphibians, 
the skull of Labyrinthodon Jegeri (fig. 150) being upwards of 
Fig. 150.—a, Skull of Za- 
byrinthodon Faegert, much 
reduced in size; 4, Tooth 
of the same. ‘Trias, Wiirt- 
temberg. 
Fig. 149.—Section of the tooth of Lasyrinthcaon 
Mastodousaurus) Fegert, showing the microscopic 
structure. Greatly enlarged. ‘Trias. 
three feet in length and two feet in breadth. Restorations of 
some of these extraordinary creatures have been attempted in 
the guise of colossal Frogs; but they must in reality have more 
closely resembled huge Newts. 
Remains of eftiles are very abundant in Triassic deposits, 
and belong to very varied types. ‘The most marked feature, 
in fact, connected with the Vertebrate fauna of the Trias, and 
of the Secondary rocks in general, is the great abundance of 
Reptilan life. Hence the Secondary period is often spoken 
of as the “ Age of Reptiles.” Many of the Triassic reptiles 
depart widely in their structure from any with which we are 
acquainted as existing on the earth at the present day, and it is 
only possible here to briefly note some of the more important 
of these ancient forms. Amongst the group of the Lizards 
(Lacertilia), represented by Protorosaurus in the older Permian 
strata, three types more or less certainly referable to this order 
may be mentioned. One of these is a small reptile which 
was found many years ago in sandstones near Elgin, in Scot- 
land, and which excited special interest at the time in conse- 
quence of the fact that the strata in question were believed to 
belong to the Old Red Sandstone formation. It is, however, 
