168 Wright and Huxley— Fossil Reptiles from Ireland. 



OjpMderpeton, are more slender and rod-like than those of the 

 posterior; and with the most complete specimens of JJrocordylus 

 and those of Ophidei-peton side by side, it is obvious that while 

 the dorsal vertebrae are equal in length, the head is smaller in 

 OpMderpeton than in Urocordyhis. 



Again, although the series of dorso-lumbar vertebrae in the most 

 complete Urocordyhis is unfortunately interrupted, it seems difficult 

 to imagine that the total number of these vertebrae (of which 

 about twenty are now discernible) could have exceeded thirty or 

 thirty-five, while in the original specimen of Ophiderpeton there 

 are between forty and fifty such vertebrae following the head; 

 and, in another, nearly a hundred vertebrge, apparently belonging 

 to the same genus, succeed one another without being commenced 

 or terminated by head or tail. 



Neither of these specimens exhibits any trace of limbs ; but a 

 much smaller one, apparently (though not certainly) belongiag 

 to the same genus, shows a pair of minute anterior limbs, and 

 .what looks like a jointed filamentous appendage posteriorly. The 

 phalanges of the digits in the anterior limbs are thick and short, 

 and only three digits are preserved. 



The study of new specimens will, doubtless, speedily clear up 

 all these ambiguities and difficulties. The species at present known 

 thus far, attained a length of three feet. We propose to call it 

 after the indefatigable explorer of the produce of the collieries, 

 to whom we are so much indebted, OpJiiderpeton Broionriggii. 



3. Ichihyerpeton. — ^We have, at present, only the hinder half of 

 the body of a single individual of this genus, which is, however, 

 extremely well marked by its deep and, comparatively, short tail, 

 covered with small truncated and apparently horny scales. The 

 hiad limb is remarkably short and broad, and appears to have been 

 sheathed in a rugose or scaly integument as far as the bases of the 

 short digits, of which five can be counted. The vertebrae are short 

 and deep, and either biconcave disks or rings ; they seem to have been 

 only incompletely ossified in the caudal region. The ventral region 

 in front of the posterior limb, presents transversly directed rows 

 of curved spiculiform ossicles. 



What remains of the body of this remarkable animal is ten 

 inches long, and its total length could hardly have been less 

 than fourteen inches. 



We have named the species Ichihyerpeton Bradley ce, after the 

 wife of the proprietor of the colliery, to whom we are indebted 

 for leave to collect these fossil remains. 



4. Keraterpeton. — This is the genus which is best represented in 

 the collection ; very complete specimens having been obtained, 

 showing all needful details of the structure of its skeleton. 



It is a salamander-like animal, which attained a length of be- 

 tween eight and nine inches. The tail is rather longer than the 

 body and the head taken together. The broad and short head, 

 with large and forward orbits, is remarkably characterized by the 

 prolongation of the epiotic bones into the long and somewhat 



