THE OLDEST AIR-BREATHERS 267 



Labyrinthodonts, and that the teeth possessed the pecuhar 

 and complicated pUcation of the ivory and enamel seen in 

 creatures of this type. The whole of these characters are 

 regarded as allying the animal with the great crocodilian frogs 

 of the Trias of Europe, first known as CheirotJm'ians^ owing 

 to the remarkable hand-like impressions of their feet, and 

 afterwards as Labyrinthodonts^ from the beautifully complicated 

 convolutions of the ivory of their teeth. 



Unfortunately the original specimen exhibited only the 

 head, and after much and frequent subsequent searching, the 

 only other bones found are a scapula, or shoulder bone, and 

 one of the surface scales which served for protection, and 

 which indicate at least that the creature possessed walking 

 limbs and was armed with bony scales sculptured in the 

 same manner with the skull bones. 



Of the general form and dimensions of Baphetes^ the facts 

 at present known do not -enable us to say much. Its 

 formidable teeth and strong maxillary bones show that it must 

 have devoured animals of considerable size, probably the 

 fishes whose remains are found with it, or the smaller reptiles 

 of the coal. It must, in short, have been crocodilian, rather 

 than frog-like, in its mode of life ; but whether, like the 

 Labyrinthodonts, it had strong limbs and a short body, or 

 like the crocodiles, an elongated form and a powerful 

 natatory tail, the remains do not decide. One of the limbs 

 or a vertebra of the tail would settle this question, but neither 

 has as yet been found. That there were large animals of 

 the labyrinthodontal form in the coal period is proved by 

 the footprints discovered by Dr. King in Pennsylvania, which 

 may have been produced by an animal of the type of Baphetes, 

 as well as by those of Sauropus unguifer from the Carboni- 

 ferous of Nova Scoiia, and which would very well suit an 

 animal of this size and probable form. On the other hand, 

 that there were large swimming reptiles seems established 



