Nciv Eurypterid from Upfcr Coal-meas^ires of Radstock. 443 



Slwionia acuminata, which vary according with the differences 

 observed in the opercular or genital plates. To return to 

 Woodward's figure of F. scahrosus, the limbs marked 3 and 4 

 are unlike those of any described Eiiry'pterus. Limb 4 

 seems only to require the terminal claw or claws to complete 

 it. From the nature of its last-preserved joint it is highly 

 probable that it once supported a double claw, like the 

 Eurypterid foot described and figured by me in the Transac- 

 tions of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh, which it closely 

 resembles, and which was obtained from the same beds at 

 Langholm as the E. scahrosus. The little projection on the 

 upper side of the terminal joint,^ which is now bent round in 

 fossilization so as to look backwards, is highly suggestive of 

 that little projection which is found to fold in between the 

 double claws, and also occurs on the foot of the recent 

 scorpions. In the same volume of the Transactions of the 

 Eoyal Society of Edinburgh, comb-like organs, sculptured 

 with the characteristic Eurypterid markings, were figured 

 and described. Since the publication of these, several more 

 perfect specimens of these comb-like appendages have been 

 added to the Geological Survey collections. This, taken in 

 consideration with the fact that Eurypterid fragments 

 abound in the beds representing almost every carboniferous 

 land surface, together with the remains of plants and such 

 undoubted land animals as scorpions, and that they have 

 been found trapped in tree stumps, with only land shells, 

 gally-worms, and air-breathing reptiles for companions, 

 affords a strong presumption that those of this age were land 

 animals and air breathers.^ 



Even were it to be proved that they had been aquatic 

 animals, the E. scabrosus and other described carboniferous 



j^ Trans. Eoy. Soc, Edinb., vol. xxx., pi. 28, figs. 11 and 11a. 



2 In tlie second edition of his "Acadian Geology," Sir J. W. Dawson 

 describes the remains of Eurypterids as occurring in the erect tree stumps of 

 the Joggins coalfield. He hazards the conjecture that the fragment may 

 represent the dermal coating of reptiles, such as his Dendrerpeton, p. 372. 

 The figures 143 /and g, and 144 e-o, given on pp. 369 and 373 of that work, 

 leave no doubt as to the nature of the remains, as they exhibit the charac- 

 teristic sculpturing of the Eurypterids. On fig. 144 I, p. 373, in all probability 

 is shown a portion of one of their comb-like organs. 



