634 
DR. J. W. DAWS OR OR ERECT TREES CORTAIRIRG ANIMAL 
3. Description of the Animal Remains. 
Batrachians. 
As already stated, the circumstances attending the entombment of vertebrate 
animals in erect trees were of such a nature as to exclude the more aquatic forms. 
The species found in these repositories, therefore, constitute a special and peculiar 
assemblage, representing the more terrestrial types of the batrachian or amphibian life 
of the period. 
The wdiole of the amphibian animals found in the twenty-four trees extracted may 
he included in twelve species, of which two are of doubtful character, owing to the 
imperfection of their remains. Of the remaining ten, eight belong to the family which 
I have separated'" under the name Microsciuria, and two are referable to the Labyrin- 
thodontia , though perhaps to a special subdivision of that group. The whole may be 
included in the order Stegocephala of Cope. 
The Microsciuria are characterised by somewhat narrow crania, smooth cranial 
bones, simple or non-plicated teeth, well-developed limb bones and ribs, elongated 
biconcave vertebrae, bony plates and scales on the thorax and abdomen, and horny 
scales on the back and sides. 
Though probably to be included in the group Stegocephala, as defined, and 
predominantly Batrachian in their affinities, they presented in form, clothing, and 
probably in habits of life, a close approximation to the lacertians. Their predomi¬ 
nating terrestrial habits are evidenced by the circumstance that in nearly all the 
species the length of the femur coincides very nearly with that of the mandible, while 
their lacertian form is indicated by the fact that in death their crania and skeletons 
he on one side and not on the back or front. 
The following genera of this group are represented in the erect trees of the South 
Joggins :—• 
1. Hylonomus .—Form lizard-like, with the posterior limbs somewhat large in 
proportion to the anterior. Size, small. Mandibular and maxillary teeth numerous, 
small, conical, pointed. Palatal teeth minute. Abdominal scales oval. Four species, 
namely, II. Lyelli , IL Wymani, H. multidens, H. latidens. 
2. Smilerpet on. -—Form somewhat elongated and limbs short. Mandibular and 
maxillary teeth wedge-shaped, with cutting edges. Palatal teeth numerous, some of 
them large. Abdominal scales oval. One species, S. aciedentatum. 
3. Hylerpeton .—Body stout with strong limbs. Mandibular and maxillary teeth 
strong, not numerous, grooved at apex. Palatal teeth numerous and some of them 
large. Thoracic plate broad. Abdominal scales pointed or oat-shaped, Two species, 
II. Dawsoni and II. longidentatus. 
4. Fritschia .—Body lizard-like. Limbs large and well ossified. Mandibular 
* ‘ Air-breathers of the Coal Period.’ 
