368 THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



it to toucli tlie ground, as would also seem to have been tlie case from 

 the footprints found in the Coal formation beds, and the size and form 

 of the toes of which make it likely that they belonged to this animal. 



From the relative dimensions of the bones, as compared with those 

 of other specimens in my possession, I presume that this individual 

 was three-fourths grown, and I doubt if its total length much ex- 

 ceeded one foot. 



The limb-bones, though thin-walled and often ci'ushed, evidently 

 had broad articulating surfaces ; and in the case of the fore-limbs par- 

 ticularly, were large and strong in proportion to the dimensions of the 

 head and vertebral column. 



The large size of the fore limb I suppose to have been related to a 

 habit of walking or standing in shallow water, with the snout in the 

 air, in the manner of newts, and the more rapid movements of the 

 creature were probably performed by the tail. It is interesting to 

 observe that in Hylonomus the proportions of the limbs were reversed 

 — the hind limbs being much larger than the fore limbs. 



Dendrerpeton Oweni, Dawson. 



Among the reptilian remains found in erect trees at the South Jog- 

 gins, there have occurred several portions of skeletons, which, from 

 their sculptured cranial bones, plicated teeth, and the forms of their 

 scales and limb-bones, I have referred to the genus Dendrerpeton^ but 

 to individuals of much smaller size than the full-grown specimens of 

 D. Acadlanuin (Fig. 143). 



On carefully examining these specimens, the result has been to 

 establish a strong probability that there is a second species of Dendrer- 

 peton^ smaller than D. Acadianum, and differing from it in several 

 points. This species I propose to name D. Oweni. It differs from 

 D. Acadianum in the following particulars : — (1.) Its much smaller 

 size ; (2.) Its long and hooked teeth (it Avill be seen that these teeth 

 differ very markedly in their proportions and form from those of the 

 larger species represented in Fig. 142) ; (3.) The greater plication of the 

 ivory in the intermaxlllaiy teeth (in D. Acadianum these teeth are, 

 on the outside, simple almost to the base, and plicated on the inner 

 side, while in this species they are plicated all around like the inner 

 maxillary teeth) ; (4.) The form of the skull, which has the orbit 

 larger in proportion, and is also shorter and broader. On the other 

 hand, when we have described the species of Hylonomus, it will be 

 seen that this animal, except in size, differs from them quite as widely 

 as does D. Acadianum. 



The distinctness of D. Oweni is further confirmed by the fact that 



