Table-case, 
No. 12. 
Hyperoda- 
pedon. 
Table-case, 
No. 12. 
Wall-case, 
No. 7. 
30 1 IhynchoGephalia — Hyperodapedon. 
and palatine bones respectively, between which the teeth of the 
lower jaw fit in a longitudinal groove. This character was 
unknown until quite recently, when a skull in the collectiou, 
having the mandibles in natural position, was skilfully de- 
veloped from the matrix, and revealed the fact. The biconcave 
form of the vertebrae, sternal and abdominal ribs, and general 
characters of the limbs, also show the near affinity of this 
ancient extinct land- lizard to its living representative. 
A 
B C 
Fio. 37. — Skull of Hyperodapedon Gordoni (Huxley), Triassic Sandstone, Lossiemouth, 
Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland nat. size). A, upper surface of skull; B, palatal 
aspect of skull; C, under side of front of lower jaw; Pinx, premaxillary bone; 
Mx, maxillary; PI, palatal teeth; Md, mandibles; 0, orbit. N, anterior nares : 
S, suprateinporal fossa ; S', lateral temporal fossa. 
Another form, but of much larger proportions, named by 
Prof. Huxley, Hyperodapedon , has been obtained from the 
Triassic sandstone of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, having the 
same compressed broadly triangular form of skull, with the 
orbits directed upwards and the premaxillaries prolonged into a 
sharp recurved beak, like Rhynchosaurus , which must have been 
encased in a similar horny sheath. 
The dentition is very peculiar, for, unlike Rhynchosaurus , 
the maxillary and palatine bones were provided with several 
