Geological Society. 507 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



February 23, 1859. — L. Horner, Esq., in the Chair. 



" On a new species of Dicynodon (D. Murrayi) from near 

 Colesberg, South Africa." By Prof. T. H. Huxley, F.R.S., Sec. 

 G.S. 



For the original specimen from which Prof. Huxley first (in the 

 spring of last year) obtained evidence of the existence of this species, 

 he was indebted to the Rev. H. M. White, of Andover, who subse- 

 quently put the author in communication with the discoverer of the 

 fossil, Mr. J. A. Murray ; and the latter gentleman having written 

 to his father, resident in South Africa, obtained for Prof. Huxley a 

 large quantity of similar fossil remains. One specimen in particular, 

 having been carefully chiselled out by Mr. Dew, afforded a complete 

 skull of this peculiar and previously undescribed species of Dicy- 

 nodon. 



The author described the distinctive features of this skull in detail. 

 Dicynodon Murrayi is distinguished from all the already known 

 species by the following characters : — 



1. The plane of the upper anterior face of the nasal and premax- 

 illary bones would, if produced, cut that of the upper face of the 

 parietal at an angle of about 90°. 



2. The suprateraporal fossae are much longer from within out- 

 wards than from before backwards, owing partly to the shortness of 

 the parietal region. 



3. The alveoli of the tusks, the transverse section of which is cir- 

 cular, commence immediately under the nasal aperture, and extend 

 forwards and downwards parallel with the plane of the nasal and 

 upper part of the premaxillary bones, and do not leave their sockets 

 until they have passed beyond the level of the posterior end of the 

 symphysis of the lower jaw. 



4. The nasal apertures are altogether in front of the orbits. 



5. The length of the upper jaw in front of the nasal apertures is 

 certainly equal tu one-third, and probably to one-half, the whole length 

 of the skull, which is between 6 and 7 inches. 



6. The OS quadratum is about half as long as the skull. 



These peculiarities are regarded as sufficient to distinguish Dicy- 

 nodon Murrayi from all others ; and the author stated that he should 

 reserve the description of many other anatomical features, which are 

 probably more or less common to other Dicynodons, such as the 

 bony sclerotic, the bony interorbital septum and vomer, the cha- 

 racters of the humerus, of the pelvis, and of the ribs, for another 

 paper, in which other Dicynodont remains will be considered. 



March 23, 1859.— Prof. J. Phillips, President, in the Chair. 



1. "On some Amphibian and Reptilian Remains from South 

 Africa and Australia." By Thomas H. Huxley, F.R.S., Sec. G.S., 

 Prof, of Natural History, Government School of Mines. 



The author described in the first place the remains of a small 



