TKANSACTIONS OF SECTION C. 581 



Each of the next four lia8 on its left .side a distinct process, terminating in a 

 concave ovoid surface for articulation with the head of a rib ; each has also a 

 broad, square, well-defined neurapophysi?, and three pairs of their zygapophyses 

 have retained their normal juxtaposition. There are four fragments of ribs lying 

 ou or near these vertebrae, and a slender tooth of Megalichthys lies on one of 

 these fragments. 



With the exception of No. 8, the next five vertebrje, with their intervertebral 

 discs, are fairly well preserved, their neural spines fairl} visible. All have costal 

 facets. Three portions of ribs lie above, and four, from 4 to 6 inches long, belo.w, 

 this part of the column. 



Nos. 13, 14, and 15 are less perfect than the above. 



The next four have neural spines nearly entire, their bodies stout, and their 

 zygapophyses in juxtaposition. They have facets for rib.^, and below tnem are five 

 portions of ribs broken ofl' at the edge of the specimen. 



Nos. '20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are without processes. Five fragments of ribs lie 

 under and near these. 



From Nos. 24 to 30 the bodies diminish somewhat in size ; below No. 25 is a 

 flat piece of bone about H inch across, suspected of some relationship with a possible 

 pelvic girdle, and on this piece lies the head of the first of a series of peculiar 

 costal bones, which belong to the right side of the spine, those of the left having 

 disappeared. They are seven in number, and there is an indication of an eighth. 

 Each appears double, like two ribs united for a certain distance by a smooth, 

 rather concave plate, which ends in a concave edge ; the lateral parts, in form of 

 ribs, are continued separately beyond, that lying next the column being very much 

 shorter than the other. Each ends above in a concave surface for articulation ; in 

 the first, fifth, sixth, and .seventh the two parts appear pressed together, and as if 

 they were articulated to contiguous parts of the intervertebral substance. The 

 opinion of palaeontologists as to these ribs is requested. 



From No. 30 to the end of the larger fragment the two remaining vertebrse are 

 much lilie those in front of them. 



The smaller fragment of the column shows four vertebral bodies and discs, 

 somewhat broken off on the upper surface. On each is a more or less distinct facet 

 for articulation, either ■with ribs, or, if this fragment be caudal, for receiving 

 chevron bones peculiar as adjuncts to caudal vertebrae. 



It is ditlicult to estimate the length and bulk of such a creature. 



It is much to be regretted that greater pains were not taken when it was 

 discovered to secure the whole of the deposit. 



The total length of the two fragments is 4 ft. 7k in. The skull, if we can 

 judge from skulls of Loxomma in our museum and elsewhere, was about 14 in. in 

 length ; if for absent vertebrse at each end of the large fragment we allow about 

 12 inches ; for vertebrae at the posterior end of the smaller fragment, including 

 the caudal appendage, six or even seven feet — the tails of modern amphibians, 

 crocodiles and alligators, being fully as long as, or even longer than, the head and 

 body together ; and if we allow two inches for shrinking during the decomposition 

 and fossilisation of the body, we make the total length of the animal during life to 

 be about 14 feet. 



Doubtless this great amphibian was an air-breathing, powerful, predaceoua 

 inhabitant of the muddy swamp or lake, possibly of warm water, that in remotely 

 ancient time occupied the surface of the country, and which succeeded to the long 

 series of ages during wliicli the dense tropical vegetation flourished that was 

 afterwards converted into that particular seam of coal now known as the Low- 

 Main. 



It swam like a fish or a newt, urged on by its powerful caudal propeller, and 

 guided partially by its imperfect limbs, and may have been capable of gettuig on 

 to dry land to bask in the sunshine. 



This specimen, as well as the skull, various vertebriP, and other bones and 

 teeth of Loxomma, with drawings of microscopic views of the last, are exhibited in 

 the ca.ses containing the Coal-measure Fossils in the Geological Department of the 

 new museum of the Natural History Society in Newcastle. 



