40 



THE EXTINCT UATKAC1I1A, REPTILIA 



articular face is a transverse oval. The size of the animal is similar to that of the Plesiosauri of medium dimensions, 

 perhaps ten feet in length, admitting elongate neck and tail, of which Micro is no evidence. 



Poiition, Bed Q. Hayden's Section of Great Lignite basin of Nebraska. (Trans. Am. I'hilos. Boc, 1800,135.) 

 perhaps of the Cretaceous age; from the Moreau Itiver. 



PLESIOSAURUS, (Jovyb. 

 1 refer the following species to this genus provisionally, and with doubt. 



PLESIOSAURUS LOCKWOODII, Cope. 



Tins reptile is represented by but iVw remains, which are in the private collection of Dr. Samuel Lockwood, of 

 Monmouth County, N. J. A single dorsal vertebra, which he kindly lent me for description, presents characters which 

 are so marked when compared with other murine Sauria as to require notice. 



The centrum is of the general Conn of Plesiosaurus and Cimoliasaurus, and the arch has a sutural attachment as 

 in the former. The suture is the surface of a sub-round pit., almost like Unit, of [chthyosaurus, and not like Unit 

 typical of Plesiosaurus, or the young of Cimaliosaurus magnus. In tin! latter the suture is an oval concavity which 

 extends throughout the length of the centrum. The pit in this species measures little more than one third the 

 length oC the centrum. The floor of the neural canal is quite flat. The sides of the centrum are strongly and 

 regularly concave, rather less strongly below than laterally. The margins flare regularly, and are not, striate 



grooved or ribbed as in many species. There is a. strong venous foramen a. short distance below the neural arch and 

 two medially below. 



The species is further characterized by the regularly concave articular faces, without median plane or prominent 

 portion, as in Cimoliosaurus species. They arc more concave than those of the Elasmosauri also. The form of the 

 surface is entirely circular. 



Width articular surface, 



Depth 



Width pit neural arch, 



Length cent rum, 



This species I have dedicated to its discoverer, Dr. Lockwood, who has contributed in various ways to the 

 progress of Natural Science. 



[t is the earliest sea saurian from this country, as it was derived from the olayswhich underlie the lower green 

 sand bed. It was dug from a brick clay pit near Matteawan, Monmouth County, 'N. .1. 



CIMOLIASAURUS, Leidy. 



Cimoliasaurus and Discosaurus, Leidy. Proceed. Academy Nat. Sci., Phila., 1851, 8S5— 1854, 72, lab. ii, flgs, 'I, 5, 

 0, and 1861, 836; Cretaceous Reptiles, 22 and 25, tabs. IV., V., VI. Brimosaurw Leidy, Pr. A.. N. Sci., Phila., 1855,-172. 



This genus has been chiefly illustrated by Leidy, who lias described remains of its 

 species from the cretaceous deposits of many of the States east ol the Mississippi. It has 

 remained for the discovery of Elasmosaurus to prove that the two supposed genera named 

 by Leidy, arc really one, his supposed caudals of Discosaurus' 1 '' being really caudals ol' Cim- 



* This genus was originally proposed on two vertebrse from Georgia, and a, vertebra, from New Jersey described 



by Dekay. lie afterwards added vertebra! from Alabama,, Mississippi and New Jersey. Some of these were regarded 

 as cervieals; they are, however, anterior caudals. As Leidy observes, there are several species among them, and it, 



may be, several genera, but as the genera cannot be distinguished by the caudal vertebra', if appears to me that Dis- 

 cosaurus cannot be preserved. While distinguishing the genus from Cimoliasaurus, Leidy adds, "The Supposed cau- 

 dals of Discosaurus I have suspected to be anterior cervieals, notwithstanding (lie apparent provision for the articula- 

 tion of chevron bones. If all the vertebra: be viewed as belonging to one animal, they represent cervieals, dorsals and 

 lumbars of Discosaurus; otherwise they represent, a, cervical and caudals of the latter, and dorsals and lumbars of Gim- 

 oliatawntl." In case of their identity, it, may be observed, Leidy refers them ;M i,o Discosaurus. Oimoliasaurus was, 



however, proposed first. 



In. 



Lin. 



2 



8 



2 



7.8 





8.4 



1 



11. 6 



