1894.] Organisation, and Classification of Fossil Reptilia. 295 



XVII. "Researches on the Structure, Organisation, and Classi- 

 fication of the Fossil Reptiiia. Part IX. Section 6. Asso- 

 ciated Remains of two small Specimens from Klipfontein, 

 Fraserburg." By H. G. SEELEY, F.R.S. Received June 21, 

 1894. 



(Abstract.) 



The author obtained parts of two skeletons from the summit of the 

 Karroo rocks, which form the Nieuwveldt range. They resemble 

 Theriodonts in their general marsupial characters. The fragments of 

 skulls are not in the same slabs with the other bones. 



TJieromus leptonotus shows the fore-limb and some vertebrae. The 

 humerus is determined to be Theriodont by the transverse extension 

 of the proximal articulation. The bone is 1-^ inches long, 

 resembling in form that of the Phalangers. The ent-epicondylar 

 foramen is more vertical than in the marsupials ; and, as among 

 marsupials, the radial crest if prolonged distally would be continuous 

 with the bridge over that foramen. The vertebrae are each -^ inch 

 long ; they show a transverse suture between the neural arch and the 

 centrum. 



The anterior part of the skull, very imperfectly preserved,, indi- 

 cates three incisor teeth with the root of a relatively large maxil- 

 lary canine, but the region of the molar teeth is lost. There is also 

 a posterior fragment of a skull, which makes known the bones of 

 the palate and the base of the brain case seen from above. Enough 

 is shown to indicate Theriodont characters, but the animal appears to 

 diverge from the Theriodonts towards the Dicynodont type. If the 

 base of the skull belongs to the same individual as the snout, it indi- 

 cates a head nearly 4^ inches long. 



The second specimen shows 14 dorsal vertebrae, which occupy a 

 length of 5^ inches ; each slightly exceeds ^ inch in length, so that 

 this animal named Herpetocheirus brachycnemns, is similar in size to 

 the fossil previously described. 



The centrum is deeply biconcave. There is no indication of a 

 capitular articulation for the ribs. The ribs are slender, and the 

 longest are 2^ inches in length. There is no trace of the transverse 

 expansion seen in Cynognathus, although the ribs preserved indicate 

 20 dorsal vertebrae. The humerus is 1-j^ inches long, and is exposed 

 on the superior aspect. It is distinguished from the type already de- 

 scribed by wanting the tuberosity on its inner distal border, which 

 has a convexly rounded contour. The radius is stronger than the 

 ulna, but there is no indication of an olecranon process exposed. The 

 ulna is no stouter than a rib. These bones are an inch long. The 

 carpus shows one large bone below the radius; there is a smaller 



