Vol. 56.] THE SKELETON OF EURYCAEPUS OWENI. 325 



20. Further Evidence of the Skeleton ofEuRYCABPUS Oweni. By 



Prof. H. G. Seeley, F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.G.S. (Kead February 



21st, 1900.) 



[Plate XXI.] 



In 1876 x Sir Richard Owen figured a fossil from the Sneeuwberg 

 which was referred to a young or small Dicynodont reptile, and 

 described as showing impressions of the neural arches and ribs, of 

 cervical and dorsal vertebrae, and of bones of the left fore-limb. 

 Eight ribs are shown and described. It is stated that ' the distal 

 end of the humerus is much expanded ; the radius and ulna are 

 distinct and in a prone position ; the palm of the fore-paw has 

 impressed the surface of the slab.' The hand is briefly described, 

 and the author remarks upon the agreement with the mammalian 

 formula of phalanges, seen in its five digits. This underside of the 

 hand was figured again in 1880 2 in illustration of the foot of 

 Platypodosaurus. Owen mentions no evidence of the Dicynodont 

 characters of the specimen, though it was doubtfully referred to 

 Dicynodon. It was afterwards named Eurycarpus Oweni and more 

 carefully figured in 1889. 3 The original specimen was presented to 

 the British Museum in 1872 by Mr. Thomas Bain, through Sir Henry 

 Barkly, who was then Governor of Cape Colony. 



One of my objects in visiting South Africa in 1889 was to 

 recover, if possible, the remainder of this specimen, which was the 

 •only skeleton then known with the limbs in natural association with 

 the vertebral column. A visit to Graaf Eeinet, however, was not 

 possible. But I ascertained that the skull was found with the 

 complete skeleton, and that a short memorandum on its characters 

 was made by Mr. Thomas Bain on finding the fossil. The manuscript 

 which Mr. Bain forwarded with the specimen has been preserved in 

 the Natural History Museum ; the document is important, and is 

 here transcribed, with a photographic reproduction (fig. 1, p. 326) 

 •of the rough sketch which it includes : — 



' Skeleton of a Dicynodon found in the Sneeuwberg, about 24 miles from Graaf 

 Reinet. It is lying on its back, as can be seen from the roots of the teeth. 

 The specimen sent fits on to the right arm. It is the only perfect impression 

 of a paddle or hand yet found of the Dicynodon ; I speak of course of those 

 found by my late father, Dr. Atherstone, and myself. Therefore it may be worth 

 preserving. It is likewise rare on account of the shape of the head (big-nosed), 

 a shape seldom found among the Dicynodon species. The tail is buried under 

 the projecting slab B, which could easily be knocked off and exposed ; I hare 

 marked the spot in the event of His Excellency wishing to have it taken out. 

 The skeleton is 2 feet 4 inches long, exclusive of its tail. At the same place 

 where it was found I discovered numerous other fossil remains, but all too 

 large to bring away, and they required some time to be disinterred. 



' 10th August, 1872. Thos. Bain.' 



1 Catal. Foss. Eept. S. Africa, pi. lii. 



2 Quart. Journ. G-eol. Soc. vol. xxxvi, pi. xvii, fig. 5, p. 424. 



3 Phil. Trans. Eoy. Soc. vol. clxxx (B) pi. xviii. 



