126 PICTURESQUE SKETCHES 



at the back part two deep conical sockets, whence 

 projected a pair of long and powerful, slightly curved 

 and sharp-pointed tusks, directed downwards and 

 slightly inwards. There is no mark whatever of any 



Fig. 48 



DlCYNODON. 



(Side View of the Skull.) 



other kind of teeth, but it is probable that the ani- 

 mal used these tusks both as offensive and defensive 

 weapons, and that its habits were carnivorous. The 

 bones of the trunk and extremities have not yet 

 been examined, but, from the structure of the ver- 

 tebrae it is probable that the Dicynodon was at least 

 partly aquatic. 



Besides the foot-prints of small animals, probably 

 like those little Lacertians already described, and 

 many others which bear strong resemblance to those 

 of tortoises and turtles, there are yet other impres- 

 sions in many parts of the new red sandstone, some 

 of them of very singular appearance. Among these 

 are two groups, one apparently of birds, often of 

 gigantic proportions, and the other exhibiting a foot- 



