86 Correspondence. 



a notice of a Batrachoid fossil, wMch. he observed in the Earl of 

 Enniskillen's collection (then Lord Cole), from British Coal-shale, 

 the exact locality from which it was obtained being doubtful, but 

 probably from Carluke, in Lanarkshire, named by him Parahatrachius 

 Colei; and in the S8bm.e Yolnm.e Dendrerpeton Acadianum (Wjm.siQ. and 

 Owen) is described from the Coal-shale of Nova Scotia. 



In January 1854 (Joukn. Geol. Soc, vol. x., p. 207), Professor 

 Owen described under the name of Baplietes planiceps, a Sauroid 

 Batrachian of the family Labyrinthodontia, from the Pictou Coal of 

 Nova Scotia ; and in March 1857, Professor Wyman, in the American 

 Journal of Science and Art, describes a species of Baniceps found 

 in Cannel Coal at Yellow Creek, Ohio, United States. 



Other Keptilian remains, amongst them Hylonomus Lyelli, etc., 

 found with terrestrial moUusca, and an insect in the hollow trunk of 

 an erect Sigillaria, from the same Coal formation, and a new species 

 of Dendrerpeton are alluded to in vols. 16 (1860) and 19 (1863), 

 Quarterly Journal Geological Society, by Dr. J. W. Dawson. In the 

 same, vol. 19 p. 56, Professor Huxley describes Anthracosaurus 

 Busselli, a Labyrinthodont from the Lanarkshire Coal field. Lastly, 

 Professor Owen described a new genus of air-breathing reptiles from 

 the Coal Measures of Llantrissent, Glamorganshire, discovered by 

 Mr. John E. Lee, F.G.S., of Caerleon, which he named AntJiraTcerpeton 

 crassosteiim, in the Geological Magazine, vol ii., p. 6, pi. I. and II. 



It will be seen, therefore, that in accordance with the progress of 

 Paleeontological knowledge during the period of the Coal formation 

 in Ireland, we have further confirmation only of what was previously 

 known as to the existence of a peculiar group of Eeptiles adapted to 

 the conditions of living in marshes, or amidst the vegetation of a 

 humid climate, such as the Flora of the Coal period discloses to us, 

 consisting of large succulent Arboreal Plants and Ferns, accompanied 

 by Sauroid Fishes and amphibian Eeptiles. 



At a subsequent period, we find a distinct type of Labyrinthodonts 

 come into being, adapted for a less aqueous existence, represented 

 by the Ldbyrinthodon or Mastodonsaurus of the Trias or New Eed 

 Sandstone. 



We see, therefore, that the laws which governed the creation and 

 distribution of Animals and Plants in the past, remain still the same, 

 each being adapted to its peculiar conditions of life : and, remember- 

 ing this harmony of existence as displaying the perfection of wisdom 

 in the Great Creator, we should not be led to expect, neither do we 

 find, any departure from such laws in these records of the past which 

 Paleeontological discovery discloses to us. — Very truly yours, 



William Hellier Bailt. 

 Dublin, January 16, 1866. 



THE EFFECTS OF WEATHERING ON EOCKS.i 

 To the Editor of the Geological Magazine. 

 SiE, — Some kinds of rocks waste freely under the influence of 



^ See the January number of the Geological Magazine, p. 46. 



