Batrachia in Upper Palaeozoic Rocks. 507 



more generally referred to the Permian Formation ; but this diver- 

 sity of opinion is of little importance in regard to these remains, as 

 it is certain that these bituminous schists belong to the upper series 

 of the Palasozoic rocks of France. Remains of seventeen individuals 

 have been obtained, one only being from Muse ; the two largest 

 are respectively 45 and 35 millemetres long from snout to end 

 of tail, whilst the Muse specimen is but 30 millemetres in length. 



Although the skeleton appears smaller, M. Gaudry does not 

 think it constitutes a specific difference. The osteological characters, 

 and the points of agreement with, or divergence from, the corre- 

 sponding bones in the Frogs and Salamanders, and also in some 

 of the extinct genera of the Amphibia, are fully stated ; but these 

 comparisons, although interesting, are too long for quotation. 



The osteological evidence for considering these remains to be 

 those of true Batrachia are, the large size of the head of Protriton, 

 the great eye orbits, the absence of the suprasquamosals, and also of 

 the entosternum and episternum, together with the very small ribs, 

 — these characters have a marked resemblance to the Batrachia, and 

 more especially to the Salamanders. There are, however, some 

 important differences ; notably the head is relatively very much 

 larger than that of the aquatic Salamanders, and is also propor- 

 tionally larger than in the terrestrial Salamanders ; the vertebras are 

 not so completely ossified ; the neck has three vertebrae, the 

 Salamander but one ; the dorsal and lumbar vertebras are shorter 

 and more numerous ; the ribs are less arched ; the lumbar vertebras 

 carry no ribs, and the tail is only a fifth of the total length of the 

 body, whilst in most of the Salamanders it is equal to the half 

 of the entire length. The anterior and posterior limbs are directed 

 backwards, thus more resembling the Ganocephala than the 

 Batrachia. It is probable, when more perfect examples of 

 Protriton are found, in which the bones of the scapular and pelvic 

 arches are shown, that more numerous differences than those at 

 present observed may separate Protriton from the Urodela. 



M. Gaudry thinks that Apateon pedestris, v. Meyer, from the 

 bituminous schists of Appel Miinster, is closely allied to Protriton, 

 and that Prof. Wyman is of opinion that Baniceps (Pelion) Lyelli, 

 from the Coal-measures of Ohio, is also a true Batrachian. There 

 is therefore evidence of the early existence in Geological time 

 of members of this family in France, Germany and North America. 

 He proposes the name Protriton petrolei, as indicating that these 

 remains are the predecessors of the Salamanders, and that they 

 were first found in rocks producing petroleum. — W. Davies. 



II. — On the Formation of Metallic Sulphides and other 

 Minerals in the Thermal Spring of Botjrbonne-les-Bains 

 (Haute-Marne). By M. Daubree. Comptes Bendus, vol. 

 lxxx. 1875. 



IN carrying out some works connected with the thermal spring of 

 Bourbonne-les-Bains, some interesting facts have been brought 

 to light. At the bottom of an ancient well, a bed of blackish mud 



