1892.] On some new Reptiles from the Elgin Sandstone. 389 



If the calculations had been conducted by rigorous methods, the 

 two columns would have agreed nearly with one another. 



I may mention that I have copies of a table of (7 <r) up to 

 90 days (see p. 304 of the paper here referred to) which I shall be 

 glad to give to any one actually engaged in the reduction of H. .and 

 L.W. observations. 



II. " On some new Reptiles from the Elgin Sandstone." By 

 E. T. NEWTON, F.G.S. Communicated by Sir ARCHIBALD 

 GEIKIE, F.R.S. Received November 28, 1892. 



(Abstract.) 



During the last few years a number of Reptilian remains have been 

 obtained from the Elgin Sandstone at Cuttie's Hillock, near Elgin, 

 which are now in the possession of the Elgin Museum and of the Geologi- 

 cal Survey. These specimens represent at least eight distinct skeletons, 

 seven of which undoubtedly belong to the Dicynodontia, and one is a 

 singular horned Reptile, new to science. All the remains yet found 

 in this quarry are in the condition of hollow moulds, the bones them- 

 selves having entirely disappeared. In order, therefore, to render the 

 specimens available for study, it was necessary, in the first place, so to 

 display and preserve these cavities that casts might be taken which 

 would reproduce the form of the original bones. Gutta-percha was 

 found to be the most suitable material for taking these impressions ; 

 and in some instances, especially in the case of the skulls, the casts 

 had to be made in several parts and afterwards joined together. 



The first specimen described is named Gordonia Traquairi ; it is the 

 one noticed by Dr. Traquair in 1885, and referred to the Dicyn- 

 odontia ; besides the skull, it includes fragmentary portions of other 

 parts of the skeleton, and is contained in a block of sandstone which 

 has been split open so as to divide the skull almost vertically and 

 longitudinally. The two halves have been so developed that casts made 

 from them exhibit the left side and upper surface, as well as the main 

 parts of the palate and lower jaw. In general appearance this skull 

 resembles those of Dicynodon and Oudenodon. The nasal openings are 

 double and directed laterally ; the orbits are large and look somewhat 

 forwards and upwards. The supra-temporal fossa is large, and 

 bounded above by the prominent parieto-squamosal crest, and below 

 by the wide supra- temporal bar, which extends downwards posteriorly 

 to form the long pedicle for the articulation of the lower jaw. There 

 is no lower temporal bar. The maxilla is directed downwards and 

 forwards to end in a small tusk. Seen from, above, the skull is 

 narrow in the inter-orbital and nasal regions, but wide posteriorly 

 across the temporal bars, although the brain-case itself is very 



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