THE CAKBONIFEROUS. 17 



portions of cuticle, ornamented with horny scales and spines, had 

 been preserved. 



The Batrachians obtained were I'eferred to twelve species in all. 

 Of these, two were represented so imperfectly that they could not be 

 definitely characterized. The remaining ten were referable to the 

 two family groups of Microsauria and Lahyrinthoduntia. 



The Microsauria are characterized by somewhat narrow crania, 

 smooth cranial bones, simple or non-plaited teeth, well-developed 

 limbs and ribs, elongated biconcave vertebrae, bony scales and plates 

 on the abdomen, and horny scales, often ornate, on the back and 

 sides. They show no traces of gills. The species belonging to this 

 group are referred to the genera Ilylonomus^ Smilerpelon, Ilylerpeton, 

 and Fritschia. The characters of these genera and of the several 

 species are given in the memoir, and illusti'ated by drawings and photo- 

 graphs, including microscopic delineations of the teeth of all the 

 species, with their internal structure and the microscopic structure of 

 their bones, as well as representations of their cuticular ornamentation 

 and armour. 



The Labyrinthodonts are represented by only two species of Den- 

 drerpeton, which are also described and delineated. 



About half of the reptilian species described were new, and those 

 previously described from fragmentary remains were more fully 

 characterized, and their parts more minutely examined. 



The invertebrate animals found are three species of land snails and 

 five of myriapods, besides specimens supposed to represent new species 

 of myriapods and insect larv«, not fully examined, and which were 

 afterwards reported on by Dr Scudder, of Cambridge, U.S. 



The memoir closes with the following general statement : — " The 

 negative result that, under the exceptionally favourable conditions pre- 

 sented by these erect trees, no remains of any animals of higher rank 

 than the Microsauria and Labyrinthodontia have been found deserves 

 notice here. It seems to indicate that no small animals of higher 

 grade inhabited the forests of Nova Scotia at the period in question ; 

 but this would not exclude the possibility of the existence of higher 

 animals of a larger size than the hollow trees were capable of receiving. 

 Nor does it exclude the possibility of higher animals having lived con- 

 temporaneously in upland situations remote from the low flats to 

 which our knowledge of the coal-formation is for the most part confined. 

 It is to be observed also that as some of the reptilian animals are 

 represented only by single specimens, there may have boon still rarer 

 forms, which may be disclosed should other productive trees bo 

 exposed by the gradual wasting of the cliff and reef." 



B 



