RKMAIXS IN TIIK COAL-l-'OliMATION OV NOVA SCOTIA. 



047 



(KrccivKl Jfiiivli K, 1KS2.) 



?>,oti' I. —On ITonnj Si-alc.'i (tud olhi'v A/ti)t'nda(/cs of Carhonifcrous Amphihlan.^. 



I have (liscussod tlicso ut some lengtli in my ' Air-brcatlievs of tlie Coal Teriod,' 

 and as f'uw new fac-ts otriinvd in tlio more recent explorations, I have merely adverted 

 to them in the text. It has however heeu sim-'fcsted to me that some more detailed 

 reference to them wmild l)e desiralile. 



r Iiave referred to this kind of cnticnlar eo'-eriii_u- as heiiijjf fomid in connexion with 

 the bones ef lfi//ni,o)inis I/ijalli and Dr/nlnr/i ion Acndidninn and J). Oweiii. It may 

 have been present in otlier species, bnt of course was likely to l)e preserved only in 

 rare instances. Tlie exampK's ligui'ed in Plates 40 and 45 may serve to <>'ivc an idea of 

 the perfect manner in whicli it has sometimes retained its charactei's, though inifortu- 

 nately, from the uneven and irregular surfice of the de])i)sits in the interior of erect 

 trees, it is always folded and crushed, so that it does not retain its original form. 



It is to be observed that in the species referred to, the thorax and abdomen wore 

 protected with bony plates and scales. The horny scales and plates seem to Jiavo 

 been confined to the upper jiarts. 



The liorny scales and ajipendages are entirely different in a])pearancc from the bony 

 ])lates and scales. The latter are tisually white or gray in colour, and present tuider 

 the mii;rosco]ie true Ixmy structures. The ftrmer are black, shining, and coaly in 

 appearance, and are inseparable from the cuticle along with which they are preserved. 

 The ordinary liorny sctdes are semiciieular, imbricated, or scattered sparsely over 

 the surface of the skin. They are of dilHrt'nt sizes, and the larger olten show minute 

 round poivs, probably nnicous or perspiratory pores. These scales arc most con- 

 spicuous toward the iipjier and anterior parts of the body. Klsewhere they often 

 degenerate into microscopic tubercles implanted in the skin. Alo:\g the sides, and 

 pei'haps near the margin of the up[ier scaly portion of the skin, there are in .some 

 specimens largei' angular scales, a]>]iarently free at the margins, and fuming a sort t)f 

 Vandyke edging, in I'ront the skin jirojects into long pendant lappets, terminated by 

 similar angulai' points, and covered with oval .scales, not imbricated, and each having a 

 pore in its centre. These ap])ear to have been present both in DoK.lrcrjictoii and 

 IFl/hnxjiiiKs. In the lattei', as stated in the text, there were on the back and shoulders 

 •Jiick ridge-like and conical tubercles, having their surfaces sculptured with furrows, 

 and If. Li/clll has two rows of flat horny bristle-like [)rocesses forming frills or 

 epaulettes. 



Portions of the scaly cuticle when caictully separated from the stone and mounted 

 in balsam, are sometimes suHiciently thin to be studied as transparent objects. 

 Viewed in this way, tuider a moderate power, the skin appears of a rich brown colour, 

 and presents an areolar or cellular aspect, the scales appear dark brown, becoming 



illX'CCLXXXII. 4 o 



