SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
237 
GEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY. 
Remains of Pliosaurus. — Palaeontologists will be pleased to learn that 
some very interesting remains of this extinct creature have recently been 
added to the collection of the British Museum, and will shortly be described 
in the forthcoming volume of the Palseontographical Society’s memoirs 
by Professor Owen. The remains consist of a nearly perfect skull, with the 
lower jaw of the same individual, which are but slightly distorted from their 
normal form. The skull measures nearly five feet in length, from the end of 
the muzzle to the occipital condyles. The rami of the lower jaw are each 
upwards of five feet long, from the pivot on which they work to the front 
point, where they unite together. The fossils have been presented to the 
National Museum by Mr. J. C. Mansel, of Blandford, Dorset. 
The Wollaston Gold Medal of the Geological Society has been awarded to 
Sir Charles Lyell, in acknowledgment of the eminent services he has 
rendered to the science of geology by his published works and researches. 
New Irish Coal Fossils. — Through the labours of Professor Huxley, Dr. E. 
P. Wright, and Mr. Brownrig, some very interesting fossils from the Castle- 
comer coal-measures of co. Kilkenny, Ireland, have been brought under the 
notice of geologists. The specimens consist of fish, insects, and amphibian 
reptiles. Three out of the five forms of these amphibians are undoubtedly 
new to science, and, in all probability, the remaining two also. The first, and 
most remarkable genus, Professor Huxley has named “ Ophiderpeton ,” 
having reference to its elongated, snake-like form, rudimentary limbs, 
peculiar head, and compressed tail. In outward form Ophiderpeton 
somewhat resembles Siren lacertina and Amphiuma , but the ventral 
surface appears covered with an armature of minute spindle-shaped plates, 
obliquely adjusted together, as in Archcegosaurus and Pholidogaster. The 
second new form, which he names Lepterpeton, possesses an eel-like body, 
with slender and pointed head, and singularly constructed hourglass-shaped 
centra, as in Thecodontosaurus. The third genus, which Professor Huxley 
names Ichthyerpeton, has also ventral armour composed of delicate rod- 
like ossicles ; the hind limbs have three short toes, and the tail was 
covered with small quadrate scutes, or apparently horny scales. The 
fourth new amphibian Labyrinthodont he appropriately names Kera- 
terpeton, a singular salamandroid-looking form, but minute as compared 
with the other associated genera. Its highly ossified vertebral column, 
prolonged epiotic bones, and armour of overlapping scutes, determine its 
character in a remarkable manner. A paper has been read before the Royal 
Irish Academy upon the subject, and, in the course of the discussion which 
followed, Professor Haughton said he had Professor Huxley’s authority for 
stating that the coal-pit at Castlecomer had within a few months afforded 
more important discoveries than all the other coal-pits of Europe. — See the 
Geological Magazine , January. 
The Structure and Affinities of Eozoon. — Professor W. King deserves 
more credit than we were inclined to afford him at first. We do not mean 
