ID 



specialised along two distinct lines : the one represented by the 

 Pareiasaurians, Anomodonts, Therocephalians, and Theriodonts, 

 and terminating in the Mammals ; the second giving rise to all 

 the other reptilian orders. The common ancestor was believed to 

 have been a ti-ue reptile probably belonging to the order Ootylo- 

 sauria. Procolophon was held to be an early member of the 

 branch which led to the Rhynchocephalians, and possibly fairly 

 closely allied to the land ancestor of Mesosaurus. 



Professor H. G. Sbkley, F.R.S., described the skidls of the 

 Fossil Reptile Procolophon from Donnybrook and Fernrocks. He 

 considered that the bone hitherto regarded as quadrato-jugal was 

 the qnadrate bone, which was embedded in the squamosal and 

 sent a strong thin process inward above the pterygoid. The size 

 of the posterior process of the quadi^ate was a character distin- 

 guishing species. There was no postorbital foramen in several 

 species ; it attained its maximum in Procolofohon laticeps. The 

 occipital region was closed and projected beyond the squamosal 

 and quadi-ate bones. The molar teeth had inner and outer cusps. 

 The fore and hind limbs were also described. The author con- 

 clvided that the main affinities were with the Anomodontia, chiefly 

 with the Pareiasauria, and in the teeth with the Theriodontia ; 

 but that in a less degree there were indications of affinity with 

 Reptiles classed as Labyrinthodonts. All parts of the skeleton 

 supported the separation of the Procolophonia as an order of 

 extinct Reptilia. 



The next Meeting of the Society for Scientific Business will 

 be held on Tuesday, the 18th April, 1905, at half- past Eight 

 o'clock P.M., when the following communications will be made : — 



1. Mr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S. — Notes on Ento- Parasites from 

 the Zoological Gardens, London, and elsewhei'e. 



2. Dr. E. LoNNBEEG, O.M.Z.S. — On Hybrids between Lepus 

 timidus and L. europcei(,s from Southern Sweden, 



3. Mr. R. H. BuRNE, F.Z.S.— Notes on the Muscular and 

 Yisceral Anatomy of a Leathery Turtle {Demochelys coriacea). 



The following Papers have been received : — 



1. Prof. E. A. MiNCHiN, F.Z.S. — On Leucosolenia contorta 

 Bowerbank, Ascanclra contorta Haeckel, and Ascetta sjnnosa 

 Lendenfeld. 



2. Mr. A. L. Butler, F.Z.S.— On the Giant Eland of the 

 Bahr-el-Ghazal {Taurotragrcs de7-biauics gigas Heugl.). 



