VERTEBRATES. 139 



quadrate scales. These have evidently bordered the lid, extending transversely 

 across the orbit, and were not sclerotic scales, which are arranged round the 

 pupil as a centre. 



The vertebral column is much injured, especially in the cervical region. 

 The dorsal vertabrae appear to have been short, and probably thirteen in num- 

 ber between the interscapular and sacral regions. They appear to have been 

 constricted medially. Traces of ribs or of transverse processes are not to be 

 found. The impression of a sacral vertebra is distinctly preserved. The cau- 

 dal vertebrae were perhaps without osseous centra, as no definite impressions 

 can be traced, and their place is occupied by the matrix. There are traces of 

 osseous neural arches, perhaps similar to those of Archegosaurus, and apparently 

 disconnected, long, compressed neural spines, and slender pleurapophyses ; the 

 latter were probably united as chevron bones. Of the former, twelve very dis- 

 tinct impressions may be counted to the sacral region ; the posterior are most 

 slender, the median most elevated, the anterior lower and of greater longitudi- 

 nal extent. They are more expanded in the direction of the axis of the body 

 near their superior extremities, and evidently supported a flattened natatory 

 tail, as th t of Protonopsis. These neural spines were continued on the poste- 

 rior third of the dorsal series. The visible, which is probably the greater part 

 of the tail, enters the remainder of the column two and a quarter times, by 

 measurement. 



' Sternal and hyoid pieces are not recognizable, though sundry fragments are 

 no doubt to be referred to these regions. An impression resembling that of a 

 raniform scapula, was probably made by that piece. The anterior limbs were 

 short and weak. The humerus is slender ; its length equals the distance be- 

 tween the centres of the external nares ; it is apparently not much dilated, nor 

 furnished with a process proximally, but is dilated and grooved distally, and 

 has no condyles. The ulna and radius are separate and slender ; the distal ex- 

 tremities of these, with the remaining bones of the anterior limbs, have been 

 lost. 



Of pelvis nothing is recognizable. The femur is slender, much dilated dis- 

 tally, slightly curved in the posterior direction, and without condyles. Its 

 length is equal to the breadth of the cranial table. 



The tibia and fibula are one-half the length of the femur, are slender, most 

 dilated proximally; the antero-exterior bone is a little longer, not in contact 

 with the inner distally, which relation I believe to be normal. The tarsus was 

 probably cartilaginous, as in Protonopsis (Menopoma,) a faint impression of the 

 outer border remaining. It was broader than long, and without heel-like pro- 

 jections. 



While the great shortness of the lower leg is a Salamandrine peculiarity, the 

 length and slenderness of the digits are quite Lacertian. The leg being 



