PALJ30PHID^3. 257 



The type genus was referred by Owen to the Hydrophidaz, but is 

 regarded by Eochebrune l (after Cope and Marsh) as more nearly 

 allied to the Pythons, and is included by him in the Pyilionida?. 

 The great difference in the structure of the vextebrae, together with 

 the probably marine habits (as deduced from the strata in which the 

 remains occur), and the occurrence of an allied or identical genus 

 (Titanophis, Marsh 2 ) in the Eocene of N. America (in which country 

 Pythons are unknown), renders it, however, tolerably certain that 

 we have to do with a distinct family, which is only provisionally 

 placed here. The question is more fully discussed by the writer in 

 the ' Geol. Mag.' dec. 3, vol. v. p. 112 (1888). 



Genus PAUEOPHIS, Owen 3 . 



The type genus. Centrum of vertebrae elongated and compressed, 

 with a distinct haemal carina in the posterior trunk-region. 



False op his toliapicus, Owen 4 . 



The type species. Typically from ten to twelve feet in length. 

 Vertebrae long and narrow, with sessile costal tubercles (transverse 

 processes), and the haemal carina without well-marked terminal 

 processes. The latter character does not appear constant in all 

 specimens. 



Hob. Europe (England). 



The following specimens are from the London Clay 

 {Lower Eocene) of Sheppey. 



39453. Fragment of a nodule containing the hinder part of the 

 (Fig.) vertebral column. Figured by Owen in his ' London 

 Clay Reptilia ' (Mon. Pal. Soc.), pt. iii. pi. xvi. figs. 1-3. 

 Bowerhank Collection. Purchased, 1865. 



39447. A nodule with a considerable part of the vertebral column. 



(Fig.) One of the types ; figured by Owen in the ' Trans. Geol. 



Soc' ser. 2, vol. vi. pi. xxii. figs. 1-2. Same history. 



38998. Nodule showing six vertebra?. One of the types ; figured 

 (Fig.) by Owen, op. cit. pi. xxii. fig. 3. Same history. 



1 Nouv. Archiv. d. Museum, ser. 2, vol. iii. pp. 274-276 (1880). 



2 Proc. Ainer. Assoc, for 1877, p. 223 (1878) ; to replace Dinqphis. Cope, 

 Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1868, p. 234, and Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. vol. xiv. 

 p. 227 (1870), identifies these forms with Palceoph/s. 



3 Trans. Geol. Soc. ser. 2, vol. vi. pt. 1, p. 209 (1841). 



4 Loc. cit. 



