388 



PALEONTOLOGY OF OHIO. 



Besides the generic characters, this species differs from any of the 

 Ptyonii in the smoothness of the Scuta, their relatively large -size, and 

 the anterior extension of the expanded neural spines. 



Brachybectes, Cope. 



Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1868, 214; Trans. Am. Philos. Soc, 1868, XIV., p. 14. 



This genus is indicated by two rami of a mandible and a portion of a 

 premaxillary only. These, when compared with those of Oestocephalus 

 and Tuditanus, from the same locality, and with others described by 

 authors, are so much stouter, i. e., shorter and more elevated, that they 

 evidently belonged to a genus unlike either. The genus further differs 

 from Oestocephalus in having the teeth of equal size to the poste- 

 rior parts of the series, that is, to the base of the elevated coronoid pro- 

 cess. The teeth are elongate cylindric cones, with their acute tips 

 turned a little posteriorly. The fractured ones display a large pulp oav- 

 ity. The three premaxillaries preserved are similar, but without curva- 

 ture of the tips. They do not exhibit striae or any other sculpture. 



So far as the remains known go, the genus is nearer Hylerpeton than 

 any other. According to Dawson, that genus is provided with a large 

 canine-like tooth, at the anterior extremity of the maxillary, on the 

 inner row, which is inserted into a distinct socket. No such tooth ap- 

 pears among those of this genus. The latter does not give any indica- 

 tion of the very elevated coronoid process of Brachydectes, though, the ex- 

 ternal portion of the dentary bone in that region being lost, little can be 

 , said about it. 



Brachydectes Newberryi, Cope 



Loc. cit., p. 14. 



This species is represented by one nearly perfect ramus mandibuli, 

 one dentary bone, and one premaxillary, probably not complete. 



The dentary bone appears to have been attached by suture to the artic- 

 ular and angular, as its free margin has very much the outline of that 

 suture in Amphiuma and lizards. The coronoid process would also seem 

 to be a part of the same bone as in Amphiuma and Menopoma, and not 

 composed of a coronoid bone as in lizards. It rises immediately behind 

 the last tooth, and displays no suture. 



The lower portion of the dentary is prolonged into an acute angle. 

 This is separated by a deep and wide concavity from the superior poste- 



