196 LABXRINTHODONTIA. 



Suborder MWROSdURIA. 



Salamandriform Labyrinthodonts, in which the vertebral centra 

 are elongated, and constricted in the middle, with traces of the 

 notocbord internally ; and the ribs generally long, curved, and 

 donble-headed. Teeth with large pulp -cavities, and without pli- 

 cations of the dentine. Occipital region of the skull and the pubis 

 ossified. Scutes may be present on the dorsal as well as on the 

 ventral aspect; and the carpus and tarsus may be ossified or 

 cartilaginous. 



Family UROCORDYLID^E. 



Stout and long -tailed forms, with the epiotic cornua frequently 

 much produced, and pitted cranial bones : neural spines and chevrons 

 of caudal vertebras much dilated at their extremities, and pectinated ; 

 no caudal ribs. No dorsal scutes. 



Genus UROCORDYLUS, Huxley 1 . 

 The type genus. Skull triangular, truncated behind, with 

 rounded muzzle and aborted epiotic cornua. Teeth slender, pointed, 

 and smooth, with a slight backward curvature ; pulp-cavity large ; 

 no trace of labyrinthic structure. Neural spines of caudal vertebras 

 tall, slender, and expanded in a fan-like manner ; chevrons usually 

 shorter and wider. Tail deep and strong, with some 80 vertebras. 

 Ribs strong, three times the length of the vertebras, with distinct 

 double heads. Middle thoracic plate thin and shield- like ; ventral 

 scutes oat-like. 



Urocordylus wandesfordi, Huxley 2 . 



Syn. Urocordylus reticulatus, Hancock and Atthey 3 . 



The type species. Length of skull about 0,033 (1-3 inches), 

 length of body 0,595 (19-5 inches). 

 Hah. Europe (Ireland and England). 



41851 e. Slab of shale showing the impression of part of the skeleton; 

 from the Coal-Measures (Upper Carboniferous) of Jarrow 

 Colliery, Kilkenny, Ireland. Accords with the type skeleton 

 figured by Huxley in the ' Trans. Roy. Irish Academy/ 



1 Trans. Roy. Irish Academy, vol. xxiv. p. 359 (1867). 



2 Loc. cit. 



3 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. iv. p. 182 (1869) ; see also Nat. Hist. 

 Trans. Northunib. and Durham, vol. iii. p. 310 (1870). 



