
644 The American Naturahst. [July, 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
Catalogue of Fossil Reptilia and Batrachia (Amphibia) 
in the British Museum, Parts II., III., and IV.!—Dr. Lydekker 
includes in Part II. the orders Ichthyopterygia and Sauropterygia; in 
Part III. the Testudinata ; and in Part IV. the Placodontia, Theromora, 
and the Batrachia (Amphibia). Part I. included the Archosaurian 
series (Dinosauria, Crocodilia, and Ornithosauria) and the Squamata. 
The order of treatment has not been a systematic one either ascending 
or descending, possibly for reasons connected with the administration 
of the museum. Apart from this, we are disposed to find fault with 
some features of the system adopted which are more important. Thus 
the streptostylicate series is quite heterogeneous, including the Rhyn- 
chocephalia, which must go with the Dinosauria in the Archosaurian 
line; and the Ichthyopterygia, which belong in the Synaptosaurian 
series. The Rynchocephalia of Lydekker, however, include some types 
(as Rhynchosauride) which, from their single codssified postorbital 
bar, belong in the Synaptosauria. 
In the treatment of the detail of the subject embraced by these 
catalogues we find the conscientiousness and painstaking characteristic 
of the author’s work generally. The definitions are comprehensible, 
and the treatment of material judicious so far as appears. ‘The settle- 
ment of questions of affinity and synonymy left uncertain by the older 
paleontologists is a service for which students everywhere will be grate- 
ful. This was especially needed among the Testudinata, which Dr. 
Lydekker found in great confusion, but which he has reduced to com- 
parative order. We have to thank him for the abolition of the name 
Colossochelys, which cannot be distinguished from Testudo. Some of 
his genera are probably too comprehensive, as, e. g., Cimoliasaurus (Sau- 
ropterygia), as the author himself suggests. Trionyx also probably 
includes more than one genus. Here is also the place to correct» some 
statements of the author anent the Adocide. He remarks (p. 129) : 
** The so-called Adocidz of Cope are probably also referable to the 
Dermatemydide, the abortion of the ribs not being a character of 
family value. In the Cretaceous genus Adocus there are traces of 
vermiculation, which are more distinct in the Eocene genus Agomphus, 
and it has yet to be proved that the latter is really distinct from the 
1 Catalogue of the Fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum. By Richard 
Lydekker. Part II., 1889; Part III., 1889; Part IV., 1890. London, Published by 
the trustees of the British Museum 



