NEW LABYRINTHODONT AMPHIBIAN. 229 



raised, sharply defined, and slightly diagonal from above down- 

 wards and backwards, and are somewhat broken and tortuous. 



The scales imbricate backwards, the anterior overlapping the 

 posterior as far as the longitudinal ridge, so that the whole of the 

 smooth anterior border is covered, as well as the conical process 

 projecting from the lower extremity, and the stria? of the surface 

 become continuous from scale to scale, and in this way the whole 

 of the scaly surface is covered with uninterrupted stria?. This 

 is all the more perfect as the boundaries of the scales are not 

 distinguishable, as already stated, the thin margins overlapping 

 with great accuracy, and the pressure during fossilization un- 

 doubtedly aiding in obliterating the visibility of the junctions. 

 The ridges and furrows formed by the rows of scales, and the 

 striation of the surface, alone give evidence of the presence of 

 this scaly armature ; and had it not been for the aid of some 

 isolated scales on the margin of the specimen, their form and 

 character could not have been determined. 



From the above description, the close resemblance of the scales 

 to those of some ganoid fishes is sufficiently obvious ; indeed, 

 they might very readily be mistaken for the scales of a gigantic 

 Platysomits, the chief distinguishing feature being that there is 

 no notch to receive the peg of the adjoining scale, the connexion 

 being merely that of superposition. 



Such are the characters of this curious Labyrinthodont, as they 

 are determinable in our specimen, and they are certainly very 

 anomalous. The most remarkable feature is the covering of 

 uniform fish-like scales, which undoubtedly seem to clothe the 

 entire body from back to belly ; and were this really the natural 

 condition of the creature it would indeed be extremely abnormal, 

 and we should be at a loss to ascertain its affinities, particularly 

 as very little aid is supplied by the few other characters that we 

 have been able to make out. Is it possible, then, in any way to 

 account for this extraordinary appearance, so as to bring Lepido- 

 tosaurus into the category of the Labyrinthodonts ? for it seems 

 to have some relationship to that group, as is shown by certain 

 cranial characters to be shortly referred to. 



We are indebted to the kindness of Prof. Huxley for an answer 



