376 



PALJEOZOIC TIME — CARBONIFEROUS AGE. 



as a Thecodont Lacertian. It was three and a half feet long, and is from the 

 copper-slate (Kupferschiefer) of Germany and Saxony. Palseosaur and Theco- 

 dontomur are the names of other Permian genera of Thecodonts. 



Fig. 617 A. 



Proterosaurus Speneri. 



The Permian Thecodont Reptiles are related in many 

 points to the lizards and monitors (see p. 346), yet have 

 biconcave vertebrae like the inferior swimming reptiles, 

 united to the socket-teeth of the Crocodiles. The teeth 

 are flattened and crenulate at the margins. The fingers in 

 the Proterosaurus call to mind those of the Pterodactyl, as 

 Gutbier suggests. The name Proterosaurus is from nporepos, 

 first, and aavpog, lizard, or saurian, and Palaeosaurus from 

 iraXaiog, ancient, and saurus. 



The characteristics which seem to be marks of high grade 

 in these Thecodonts appear to be so implanted in a structure 

 otherwise low, that they must be regarded as foreshadowings 

 of the higher types rather than as marks of elevation. 



The Palaeozoic character of the life of the Permian, as already shown, is 

 strongly marked. Geinitz observes, further, that the Terebratula elongata of the 

 Zechstein approaches a Devonian form ; Camaroplwria Schlotheimi (Zechstein) 

 is near the Carboniferous C. C rumen a ; Spirifer Clannyanus (Zechstein), the Car- 

 boniferous S. Urii ; S. cristatus, the Carboniferous S'. octoplicatus. The genus 

 Axinus (Schizodus) ends with the Permian, as well as Orthis, Camarophoria, 

 Productus, and Strophalosia. 



