Prof. Roemer — On a new Fossil Snake. 425 



Paleryx, from the London Clay, Middle and Lower Eocene of 

 England,^ and the remains of a serpent LaopMs crotaloides, Ag. 

 discovered by Capt. Spratt, E.N., in a Tertiary formation at Salonica.^ 

 We noticed the discovery, by Prof. 0. C Marsh, of Yale College, Ct., 

 U.S., of a new gigantic fossil serpent, Dinophis grandis, from the 

 Tertiary of New Jersey, last month (p. 377). 



The description, therefore, of a comparatively well preserved, and 

 clearly identified ophidian, from the Tertiary limestone (Kalkschiefer) 

 of Kumi, in the Island of Euboea, by Prof. Eoemer, of Breslau, is so 

 important as to merit the attention of paleeontologists. 



The remains were found in a slab of limestone, 9in. in length by 

 Sin. in breadth, which exhibits on its surface the vertebral column 

 and ribs of an ophidian. 



It was prociired for the University Museum from the cabinet of the 

 late Dr. Beinert, and is stated to have been obtained from the wall 

 of the Brown-coal deposit of Kumi, and is probably of Miocene 

 Tertiary Age, like those from the Braunkohlen formation of Germany. 



The portion of the skeleton preserved consists of part of the 

 vertebral column, 9^in. in length, and comprising 25 vertebrae with 

 the ribs attached, also the greater part of the left ramus of the lower 

 jaw, with eight of the teeth in situ. The specimen is so disposed 

 upon the slab that about half the vertebree exhibit their dorsal, and 

 half their ventral, aspect. 



The vertebrge of the fossil snake correspond, in all important re- 

 spects, with those of the living Python. When compared with those 

 of PytJwn bivittatus the dorsal processes are somewhat less pronounced, 

 and the antero -lateral faces are somewhat produced. The form also 

 of the vertebrae enabled the author to determine to what portion of 

 the column of the snake these bones belonged. The vertebree of the 

 anterior part of the back-bone of the living Python are provided with 

 processes (hypapophyses), directed obliquely downwards and back- 

 wards, the length of which is equal to, or exceeds, the diameter of 

 the body of the vertebra. The remaining vertebra, down to the 

 caudal series, do not possess these inferior processes. In place of 

 this they are provided with a small rounded protuberance, in which 

 the ventral ridge terminates at the hinder end. Prof. Eoemer de- 

 tached the two most anterior vertebra of the fossil Python, but found no 

 hypapophyses under them, but a small rounded prominence like that 

 observed in the dorsal series of the living Python. This shows that 

 the fossil vertebrae in question belong to the middle part of the 

 trunk. The uniformity of the size of the vertebree also proves them 

 to be from the central portion ; for anteriorly and posteriorly they 

 diminish in the living Pythons and Boas. 



The ribs are only partially preserved, but 16 of the right side re- 

 main in situ ; they are sabre-like in form, and correspond vdth those 

 of the recent P. bivittatus already referred to. They are expanded at 

 the proximal end, and are provided with an articulating face by 

 which they are united to the corresponding articulating face of the 



1 Pal. Soc. Lond. Mon. Ophidia, 1849-50. 



2 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, Lond., vol. liii., 1857, p. 196. 



