72 Bibliographical Notices. 



is, its value is always in proportion to the degree to which evidence 

 has been previously elaborated by laborious descriptions and com- 

 parative figures. The author's mental attitude rather disposes him 

 to write for those who have already written on similar subjects, 

 than for the many who might become students. But even in this 

 he has impressed his own individuality on his work in his own way, 

 and we take that work with much gratitude for the labour, ability, 

 and research which it manifests. 



Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. Palceontologia Inclica, 

 being Fiijures and Descriptions of the Organic Remains procured 

 during the progress of the Geological Survey of India. Published 

 by order of His Excellency the Grovernor-Greneral of India in 

 Council. Series iv. Yol. I. Part 4. The Labyrinthodont from 

 the Bijori Group. By R. Lydekkek, B.A., F.G.S., F.Z.S. With 

 4 plates. Calcutta: Geological Survey Office. London: Triibner 

 & Co. 1885. 



The Labyrinthodont which gives a title to this memoir is a new- 

 generic type named by the author Gondwanosaurus bijoriensis. The 

 name is taken from the geological series, Gondwana system, in 

 which it occurs, and the Bijori group, an upper subdivision of the 

 same series in the Satpura district. The preservation is not all that 

 could be desired, the bones having disappeared from the exposed 

 portions of the specimen. The skull is about the size of that of the 

 well-known Loocomma Alhnanni, and is shown to be labyrinthodont 

 by the structure of the teeth, a parietal foramen, the presence of 

 epiotic cornua, and the structure of the thoracic shield. Only in 

 the region of 'the epiotic bones is there a trace of external surface, 

 and there the ornament is closely pitted. The exoccipital region 

 appears to show no trace of the characteristic amphibian exoccipital 

 condyles, a character not without importance in determining the 

 classificatory position of this animal and its allies. The author 

 relies mainly upon the figures to convey a conception of the form, 

 proportions, and structure of the skull, and the relations of its 

 several elements. The outline was triangular, with a rounded 

 muzzle, the length to the breadth being as two to three. The orbits 

 are oval, separated by the diameter of an orbit, and are in the 

 posterior half of the cranium. The parietal foramen is just behind 

 the eyes. An oval plate, which has the aspect of a perforation in 

 the cranial bone, occurs on each side of the foramen. The author 

 regards this as a bony pedicle ; but having only the figure to judge 

 from, it appears to us to be an indication of minute temporal fossa, 

 and if so is not entirely without interest as bearing upon the afiini- 

 ties of the group. In the pre- orbital region there is on one side a 

 slio-ht depression, thought to indicate a small lyra. The nares 

 appear to have been near the extremity of the snout. On the 

 palatal aspect there is a similar absence of bony elements ; but a 



