182 REPORT—1874. 
Wyman’s Raniceps Lyellii, Its squamous integument and narrow nasal roof give 
it the somewhat Lacertilian physiognomy, more especially Geccotian, in its broad 
cranium and orbits, its large marginal palpebral scales, and rather short digits. Its 
true affinities are indicated by the presence of two premaxillaries, with a squamoso- 
postorbital arch, asin Labyrinthodontia, some Batrachia Gradientia, and Crocodilia ; 
its quadrato-jugal arch as in Labyrinthodontia and Batrachia Salientia ; its poste- 
riorly directed oblique quadratum and lack of ribs, as in Batrachia Salientia; its 
probably short pelvis, short separate bones of the leg and forearm; its opistho- 
ceelian dorsal vertebra, and long caudal neural spines, as in Batrachia Gradientia. 
It is, then, the type of a group intermediate between the Labyrinthodontian and 
Gradient Batrachians, distinguished from the former by the opisthoccelian vertebrae, 
absence of ribs, and pleurodont dentition ; and from the latter by the scaly integu- 
ment, absence of ribs, and structure of the nasal and prefrontal regions. But one 
genus of Salamanders, Glossolega, has a similar os quadrato-jugale, and but a part 
of one family, the Salamandridx, the postfronto-squamosal or posterior zygomatic 
arch. A ribless type might, however, well exist among Gradientia, when we con- 
sider the great difference between their development in Plewrodeles on the one hand 
and Amphiuma on the other. From the Salientia the dentigerous mandible, squa- 
mosal arch, form of vertebra, sacrum and extremities, &c. widely distinguish it. 
To the Batrachian orders Labyrinthodontia, Gradientia, Gymnophidia, and Salientia, 
the present may be added, under the name Xenorachia. 
* * # # * # * * * * * * 
“If we compare the peculiarities of this genus with those of the Batrachia of the 
same period, we find it to be distinguished, independently of the ordinal characters, 
from such genera as Osteophorus, Melosaurus, Sclerocephalus, Xestorrhytias, Baphetes, 
and Brachyops, by the absence of the sculpturing of the cranial bones, the lack of 
dermal shields, characteristic of most of these, and by the presence of cranial and 
palpebral scales. The crania of the first genera are much more elongate, and imitate 
those of some Crocodilia. Similar differences exist between the Illinois Batrachian 
and Dendrerpeton (Owen); the latter possesses also a double row of. teeth. Hylo- 
nomus (Dawson), supposed to possess Lacertilian affinities, exhibits ribs and bicon- 
cave vertebre. The ribs of Zelerpeton will distinguish it also. The only genus as 
yet known to approach closely that under consideration has been described by Prof. 
J.Wymaa under the name of Raniceps. This animal is only known from a study of 
the inferior aspect of a portion of the skeleton; nevertheless it is certainly different, 
being nearly double the size, and having relatively longer and stronger anterior 
limbs. The angles of the mandible appear to have been considerably more incurved 
than in the Illinois species. They may have belonged to the same genus; in that 
case the name here given will not prove superfluous, as the older appellation was 
previously applied to a genus of Gadid Fishes.” 
A. GRANDICEPS, Cope. 
Locality. Coal-measures of Morris, Grundy co., Illinois. 
References. Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1865, p. 184.—JZd. Geol. 
Survey of Mlinois, vol. ii. p. 135, t. xxxii.— Synopsis of Extinct Batrachia, 
&c. of North America,” Trans. American Phil. Soc. vol. xiv. p. 7 [1870]. 
Amphicelosaurus, Barkas. 
Founded upon three biconcave vertebral centra, with minute notochordal foramina. 
A. Tayxort, Barkas. 
Locality. Sandstone above the High-Main Coal, Northumberland. 
References. Barkas, Coal-measure Paleontology, p. 104 [1873].—Atlas of Car- 
boniferous Fossils, t. x. figs. 234 a, b, c [1873]. 
Amphisaurus, Barkas. 
This genus is apparently founded upon part of a mandible with teeth of Anthra- 
cosaurus. 
