1882.] Remains in the Coal Formation of Nova Scotia. 255 



trees are given, and it is shown that on decay of the woody axis and 

 inner bark they must have constituted open cylindrical cavities, in 

 which small animals sheltered themselves, or into which they fell and 

 remained imprisoned. These natural traps must have remained open 

 for some time on a subaerial surface. 



In all twenty-five of these erect trees had been discovered and 

 extracted, and the productive portions of them preserved and carefully 

 examined. Of these, fifteen had proved more or less productive of 

 animal remains. From one no less than twelve reptilian skeletons had 

 been obtained. In a few instances, not only the bones, but portions of 

 cuticle, ornamented with horny scales and spines, had been preserved. 



The Batrachians obtained were referred to twelve species in all. Of 

 these two were represented so imperfectly that they could not be defi- 

 nitely characterised. The remaining ten were referable to the two 

 family groups of Microsauria and LabyrintJwdontia. 



The Microsauria are characterised by somewhat narrow crania, 

 smooth cranial bones, simple or non- plaited teeth, well-developed limbs 

 and ribs, elongated biconcave vertebra?, bony scales and plates on the 

 abdomen, and horny scales, often ornate, on the back and sides. They 

 show no traces of gills. The species belonging to this group are 

 referred to the genera Sylonomus, Smileiyeton, Hylerpeton and 

 Fritschia. The characters of these genera and of the several species 

 are given in detail and illustrated by drawings and photographs, 

 including microscopic delineations of the teeth of all the species, with 

 their internal structure and the microscopic structure of their bones, as 

 well as representations of their cuticular ornamentation and armour. 



The Labyrinthodonts are represented by only two species of Den- 

 drerjpeton, which are also described and delineated. 



About half of the reptilian species described are new, and those 

 previously described from fragmentary remains are now more fully 

 characterised, and their parts more minutely examined. 



The invertebrate animals found are three species of land snails and 

 five of myriapods, besides specimens supposed to represent new species 

 of myriapods and insect larva3, not yet fully examined, and which have 

 been placed in the hands of Dr. Scudder, of Cambridge, U.S. 



The memoir, consisting in great part of condensed descriptions of 

 the facts observed, does not admit of much abridgment, and cannot be 

 rendered fully intelligible without the accompanying plans, sections, 

 and drawings. It closes with the following general statement : — 



" The negative result that, under the exceptionally favourable con- 

 ditions presented by these erect trees, no remains of any animals of 

 higher rank than the Microsauria and LabyrintJwdontia have been 

 found deserves notice here. It seems to indicate that no small 

 animals of higher grade inhabited the forests of Nova Scotia at 

 the period in question ; but this would not exclude the possibility of 



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