1870.) | _ HANCOCK AND HOWSE—LEPIDOTOSAURUS, 563, 
posterior as far as the longitudinal ridge, so that the whole of the, 
smooth anterior border is covered, as well as the conical process pro- 
jecting from the lower extremity; and the striz of the surface 
become continuous from scale to scale, and in this way the whole of 
the scaly surface is covered with uninterrupted striz. This is all 
the more perfect as the boundaries of the scales are not distinguish - 
able, as already stated, the thin margins overlapping with great, 
accuracy, and the pressure during fossilization undoubtedly 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 deter- 
mined. 
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 Platysomus, 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 Lepidotosaurus into the 
category of the Labyrinthodonts? for it seems to have some relation- 
ship 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 to 
this question. After carefully examining the specimen, and con- 
sidering it in every possible way, that gentleman suggested to us 
that, after all, the scales that now seem to be coextensive with the 
whole body may be nothing more than the ventral scutes common to 
all Labyrinthodonts, though somewhat modified in character and 
more extensively developed than usual. 
The specimen, as we have already pointed out, lies on its side. Now 
these Amphibians have had depressed bodies; and as it may be 
supposed that the ventral scales would be developed in proportion to 
the degree of depression (or, in other words, those individuals with 
broad bellies would have more scutes than those with narrow 
bellies) it is easy to see that in Lepidotosawrus the scutes or scales, 
assuming the depression to have been extreme in this form, might 
have been more than usually developed. It is quite possible then, 
nay, even likely, that on the collapse of the ventral scales, under 
the influence of lateral pressure, the animal lying on its side, their 
