T^AXONOMY 277 



concave, more so on the lower half. The lower extremity is more ex- 

 panded than the upper, and is also thicker, strongly convex in front, and 

 somewhat concave on the posterior surface. In the vertical position of 

 the bone the upper articular surface is nearly horizontal, while the lower 

 is directed at an angle of about 20 degrees inwardly. 



Associated with the leg bones were found a number of tarsal and 

 phalangeal bones, figures of which will l)e found in plate 12, figures 1 

 and 2. Their precise position can not be determined, more than that two 

 of the tarsals belong in the proximal row and three of the toe bones are 

 metatarsals. 



Taxonomy 



DT880R0PHU8 MULTICIXCTU8 



From West Coffee C-reek, in Baylor County, I was so fortunate as to 

 find a considerable part of a skeleton of Dissorophus multicinctus, which 

 adds not a little to onr knowledge of this genns. The parts preserved are 

 the nearly complete skull, with the palatal region imperfect, the nearly 

 complete carapace, with several vertebrae attached, the nearly complete 

 pectoral girdle, humeri, parts of the radius and nlna, the imperfect pelvis, 

 a femnr, parts of the tibiae, and several tarsal bones. They will be figured 

 und described soon by the writer. The skeleton agrees in its essential 

 characters closely with Cacops, but is generically distinct in the much 

 greater development of the carapace, with its fused anterior dermal bones, 

 armadillo-like, and in the much greater stoutness of the appendicular 

 skeleton. From this specimen and the material of Cacops may be given 

 the following family and generic characters. In the family characters I 

 itali<?ize those based exclusively upon Cacops. 



DI880R0PUIDJE — FAMILY NEW 



General characteristics. — Skull with the otic notch completely en- 

 closed to form a large ear cavity. Palate with but two large teeth on 

 each side, one at the anterior inner margin of the nares, the other at the 

 posterior margin; mandibular and maxillary teeth of nearly equal size. 

 Parasphenoid reduced. Tiventy-one presacral vertehrce; two sacral verte- 

 hrce; tail short. A dorsal carapace, composed of lateral expansions of the 

 spines of the vertebrae, with overlying intercalated dermal plates. Clei- 

 thrum very large and expanded above. Clavicles small, without exterior 

 pittings. Interclavicle smooth on the dermal surface, small, with a short 

 posterior process. Humerus without ectepicondylar process. Femur witli 

 strong adductor crest.' 



