8 THE EXTINCT BATRACHIA, KEPT! LI A 



belief in the existence of such vertebrae, and the existence of these in a well ossified con- 

 dition, in the apparently nearly allied genus Raniceps Wyman strengthened such belief. 

 There were actually, however, only osseous neural arches present, and I am now decidedly 

 of the opinion that the vertebral centra were either cartilaginous or annulilbrm, as in 

 Archegosaurus. 



AMPHIBAMUS, Cope. 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18C5. 134. 



AMPHIBAMUS GKANDICEPS, Cope. 



Prop. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, I860, 134. Palsentology, 111. State Survey, Tab. 

 Carboniferous ; Lower Coal Measures ; Morris County, Illinois. 



:MIC:R.C>S-A.TT:R,I^_. 



This suborder was established by Prof. Dawson for small lizard-like vertebrates from 

 the Coal Measures, which he thought presented points of affinity to the Saurium reptiles, 

 at the same time recognizing Batrachian characteristics. 



These creatures form, in fact, a series closely resembling or parallel with what was 

 probably an immature stage of the Labyrinthoclontia. They are, Labyrinthodonts, 

 with simple, or very slightly inflected enamel of the teeth, and with the extent of the 

 exostosis of the cranial bones much reduced. This character has been much overrated 

 by some authors. In the Dendrerpeton obtusum Cope the grooving and pitting exists 

 only on the posterior parts of the cranium, and gradually disappears anteriorly. In the 

 Alligator mississippiensis the same is the case. 



The only species, included in this tribe, in which inflections of the enamel have been 

 described is the Dendrerpeton acadianum, and here it is only at the base of the tooth. 

 It is, however, not impossible that this genus should not be associated with Hylerpeton, 

 (Estocephalus, etc. 



The genera Urocordylus, Ceraterpeton, Lcpterpeton, Ophiderpeton, and others 

 recently described by Prof. Huxley, also belong here. 



The genus Brachydectes m. is established on portions of the crania only, while 

 Sauropleura m. is known from portions of all the skeleton except the cranium. There is, 

 therefore, a possibility of a double emploi in this case, though not in respect to the 

 species. 



