216 



HISTORICAL PALAEONTOLOGY. 



the fore-feet, and to which the 

 name of Labyrinthodonts was ap- 

 plied in consequence of the 

 complex microscopic structure of 

 the teeth (fig. 149). In the essen- 

 tial details of their structure, the 

 Triassic Labyrinthodonts did not 

 differ materially from their pre- 

 decessors in the Coal-measures 

 and Permian rocks. They pos- 

 sessed the same frog-like skulls 

 (fig. 150), with a lizard-like body, 

 a long tail, and comparatively 

 feeble limbs. The hind -limbs 

 were stronger and longer than 

 the fore -limbs, and the lower 



Fig. 148. Footprints of a Labyrinthodont (Cheirotherinm\ from the Triassic Sand- 

 stones of Hessberg, near Hildburghausen, Germany, reduced one-eighth. Ihe lower 

 figure shows a slab, with several prints, and traversed by reticulated sun-cracks : the 

 upper figure shows the impression of one of the hind-feet, one-half of the natural size. 

 (After Sickler.) 



