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ON AN ALMOST PEEFECT SKULL OF A NEW PEIMITIVE 

 THERIODONT {LYCOSUCHUS VANDEBBIETI). 



By R. Beoom, M.D., B.Sc, C.M.Z.S. 



Read November 26th, 1902. 



Plates I. & II. 



For some time there has been m the Museum of the Victoria 

 College, Stellenbosch, a very fine fossil Theriodont skull. It was 

 presented to the College by the Rev. Mr. Van der Merwe, of Beau- 

 fort West, w^ho stated that it had been got on the Groot Vlakte 

 between Prince Albert, Beaufort West, and Willowmore. We may 

 therefore assume that it was found either in the Lower Karroo or 

 the Ecca Beds and that it belongs to the early Triassic or Permian 

 period. This valuable skull Prof. Van der Riet has very kindly 

 forwarded to me on loan that I might examine and describe it. 



The skull with its matrix has formed a large carcareous nodule, 

 so hard that I have found it impossible to do much in the way of 

 development. Fortunately, however, the skull has been so well 

 weathered that most of the superficial bones are thoroughly dis- 

 played. The lower jaw is in position and its structure is well 

 shown ; but the palate, unfortunately, is completely hidden by the 

 matrix. 



The skull, which is long and comparatively narrow, bears some 

 superficial resemblance to that of Cynognathus platyceps, Seeley, 

 but differs greatly in the structure of the lower jaw, and of the 

 temporal arch, and in the dentition. And whereas Cynognathus is 

 one of the most highly developed Theriodonts yet discovered, the 

 skull under consideration — for which I propose the name Lycosuchus 

 vanderrieti — represents one of the most generalised of Theriodont 

 types. 



Bones of the Skull. 



The orbits, which are situated a little behind the middle region of 

 the skull, are oval-shaped and look outwards and slightly upwards. 



