472 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 20, 



Its general surface is covered with small imbricated scales, not 

 essentially different from those already mentioned, but these are 

 associated with other appendages. On either side of what seems to 

 have been the middle line of the back, covered with small scales, 

 there is a series of flat horny processes, which probably formed a 

 double spinous crest. Outside these there are two elongated tufts of 

 densely grouped, slender, bristle-like processes ; exteriorly to which, 

 there is, on each side, a row of flat, horny, transversely wrinkled 

 plates. Near them was a short row of conical, truncated, horny 

 tubercles. Sections of all these appendages show that they were 

 horny and attached to the skin. This specimen will be figured, with 

 enlarged views of its appendages, and a section of one of the thicker 

 scales, in the work already mentioned. 



5. Another fragment may have belonged to a different species 

 from either of the preceding. It is about an inch in length, and 

 rather less in breadth, and is covered with very small imbricated 

 scales. It is crossed by six or seven obscure ridges, which, both at 

 the lower margin and along a middle line, project in points covered 

 with larger scales; and a row of large scales with round pores connects 

 these points along the lower edge. If, as seems likely, this fragment 

 represents the side of the trunk or tail, it would perhaps indicate a 

 division of the subcutaneous muscles by a mesial line, as in Fishes 

 and Newts. A separate fragment has a larger lobe or point, of the 

 same structure as those above described. 



6. A few separate fragments show appendages which may have 

 been connected with some of the larger portions of integument above 

 described. Two of these detached fragments show pointed and pro- 

 bably membranous appendages, marked on each side with rows of 

 scales not overlapping, and each with a pore in its centre. The 

 manner in which they are folded and bent shows that they must 

 have been soft, except at the tips, which were probably horny. 

 They are arranged in series, as if originally attached to the sides of 

 the body of an animal of a somewhat elongated form. Another and 

 very small fragment shows a sort of scale, perhaps abdominal, marked 

 with transverse slightly furrowed ridges. Another and much larger 

 portion of cuticle has a beautiful covering of imbricated scales, fringed 

 at the lower margin with larger scales. 



The whole of these specimens are chemically in the condition of 

 highly bituminous coal, affording an example of the production of 

 that substance from animal membrane and horny matter. They 

 present the appearance of jet, and burn with much flame and a 

 bituminous and ammoniacal odour. It is remarkable that in no 

 case do the portions of cuticle contain the skeleton of the animal to 

 which they belonged. This may be accounted for by supposing that 

 the skins were ruptured in decay, and allowed the bones to fall out ; 

 or possibly they may in some cases have been cast while the animals 

 were alive. Their preservation implies that the mass in which they 

 were imbedded was wet and impervious to air, as must have ordinarily 

 been the case in these deep pits in damp soil. 



