Page:Synopsis of the Exinct Batrachia and Reptilia of North America. Part 1..pdf/12

 THE EXTINCT BATRACIIIA, REPTILIA belief in the existence of such vertebrfe, and the existence of these in a well ossified con-dition, in the apparently nearly allied genus Raniceps -Wyman strengthened such belief. There were actually, however, only osseous neural arches present, and I am now decidedly of the opinion that the vertebral contra were either cartilaginous or ammliform, as in .Archegosaurus. A M P II I B AI US, Cope. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. Philadelphia, 1865. 134. A lIPHIBAINIUS GRA NDICEPS, Cope. Proc. Acad. Nat. Set. Philadelphia, 1865, 134. Pahentology, III. State Survey, Tab. Carboniferous; Lower Coal Measures; Morris Comity, Illinois. M I C S I .A. This suborder was established by Prof Dawson for small lizard-like vertebrates from the Coal 'Measures, which lie thought presented points of affinity to the Sauriuni reptiles, at the same time recognizing Batrachian characteristic's. These creatures form, in fact, a series closely resembling or parallel with what was probably an immature stage of the Labyrinthoclontia. The) are, Labyrinthodonts, with simple. or very slightly inflected enamel of the teeth, and with the extent of the exostosis of the cranial bones much reduced. This character has been much overrated by some authors. In the Dendrerpeton obtusum Cope the grooving and pitting exists only on the posterior parts of the cranium, and gradually disappears anteriorly. In the Alligator mississippiensis the smile is the case. The only species, included in this tribe, in which inflections of the enamel have been described is the Dendrerpeton acadianum, and here it is only at the base of the tooth. It is, however, not impossible that this genus should not be associated with Hylerpeton, (Estocephalus, etc. The genera ITrocordylus, Ceraterpeton, Lepterpeton, Ophiderpeton, and others recently described bs Prof. Huxley, also belong here. The genus Bracliydcctes in. is established on portions of the crania only, while Samopleura in. is known from portions of all the skeleton except the cranium. There is, therefore, a possibility of a double emploi in this case, though not in respect to the species.