1859.} 



DAWSON FOSSILS IN COAL. 



273 



matter in the interior of the trunk in which it was found ; and the 

 specimens were probably crushed and buried by the sand with which 

 it subsequently became filled. The occurrence of such a creature is 

 another evidence of the similarity of the conditions of the areas of 

 coal-accumulation to those of modern forests. The oldest Myriapod 

 previously known is, I believe, the Geophilus proavus, Miinster, of 

 the Jurassic period *. 



§ 4. Reptilian Remains. 



The number of specimens entombed in this singular repository is 

 so great, and the bones so much scattered, that it will require much 

 skill and care to work out all their relations. In the mean time I 

 desire merely to describe and figure such parts as may serve distinctly 

 to characterize the several species f. 



The Dendrerpeton Acadianum is represented by portions of two 

 skeletons, belonging to individuals of different sizes. In addition 

 to the parts formerly described by Professors Wyman and Owen, my 

 specimens exhibit the greater part of the cranial bones, perfect 

 examples of the lower jaws and teeth, vertebrae, ribs, and phalanges. 

 "We learn from these that the whole surface of the cranium and jaws 

 was strongly sculptured. There appears to have been a double occi- 

 pital condyle. The orbits were very large. The teeth were in two 

 series ; the outer were simple, conical, and either straight or curved, 



Figs. 10-13. — Dendrerpeton Acadianum from the Coal-measures of 



Nova Scotia. 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 10. 



Fig. 12. 



Fig. 10. Interior tooth, mnpn. 15 (limn. II. Exterior tooth, magn. l.~> dinm. 

 12. Exterior teeth oia smaller specimen, magn. Lddiaxn. L3. A. scale, 



magnified; the vertical line shows the real length of the specimen. 



the inner larger and farrowed longitudinally by tlic oorragated plates 

 of dentine (figs. 10-13). Thereare also indications of a group of 



* Pietot, Paloontologio, vol. ii. p. 106. 



t l!e.-*ides die figures u'iven in the woodouts, the author has sen! several drawings 

 of Reptilian remains, rarj oarefullj axeeatnd bj Mr. 11. s Smith, Am-i to the 



Canadian Geological BorVSV. 



\ 2 



