FROM THE KARROO BEDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



663 



EosiMOPs NEWTONi, gen. et sp. n. (Text-fig. .39.) 



This genus and species is founded on a skull which I dis- 

 covered at Victoria West, and which is of special importance as 

 throwing some light on the age of the rocks which yielded the 

 unique fossil forms Galechirus scholtzi, Heleosuchus scholtzi, 

 ArnognathMS pcn'indejis, and Ifeleojjhilus acutus. When these 

 fossils were discovered by Mr. Scholtz no other fossil had been 

 found within 40 or 50 miles, and there was much doubt as to 

 the age of the deposit. When I described the forms I thought 

 it very likely that they were some of the land representatives of 

 the Lystrosaurus zone. Shortly afterwards Mr. A. L. du Toit, 

 of the Geological Survey, reaching Victoria West from the north 



Text-figure 39. 



Skull of JSosimops netvtoni Broom. 



The apparent asymmetry is partly clue to crushing, hut largely owing to different 



degrees of the surface of the bones having been flaked off. 



through a very unfossiliferous region, came to the conclusion 

 that the beds at Victoria West were probably of the Pareia- 

 saurus zone. For many years I have taken Mr. du Toit's 

 opinion, but working from the South I have been compelled to 

 differ. Biesjespoort, which lies about 20 miles south of Victoria 

 West, is very rich in fossils, and is certainly at the base of the 

 Cistecejihalus zone. For miles the strata are almost joerfectly 

 horizontal, and it is hard to believe that the beds at Victoria 

 West can be much lower than those at Biesjespoort. Unfortu- 

 nately, the intermediate beds so far as examined are almost 

 pRoc. ZooL. See— 1921, No. XLV. 4-5 



