Some Salient Points in the Science of the EarthDawson, John William, Sir
Science
Some Salient Points in the Science of the Earth
Dawson, John William, Sir
Geology; Paleontology
In addition to the reptilian species above noticed, the erect trees of
Coal Mine Point have afforded several others. There is a second and
smaller species of Dendrerpeton (_D. Oweni_) and other forms belonging
to the group of Microsauria of which Hylonomus is the type. A second
species of that genus (_H. Wymani_) has already been mentioned. A
similar creature, but of larger size and with teeth of a wedge or
chisel shape, has been referred to a distinct genus, _Smilerpeton_. It
seems to have been rare, and the only skeleton found is very imperfect.
Its teeth are of a form that may have served even for vegetable food,
as their sharp edges must have had considerable cutting power. Another
curious form of tooth appears in the genus _Hylerpeton_. It has the
points worked into oblique grooves separated by sharp edges, which
must have greatly aided in piercing tough integument. These creatures
seem to have been of stout and robust build, with large limbs. Still
another generic type (_Fritschia_) is represented by a species near to
Hylonomus in several respects, and with long and beautifully formed
limb bones, but with the belly protected with rod-like bodies instead
of scales. In this respect Hylerpeton is somewhat intermediate, having
long and narrow scales on the belly instead of the oval or roundish
scales of Hylonomus. All these last-mentioned forms are Microsaurians,
with simple teeth and well-developed ribs and limbs, and smooth
cranial bones. Two other species are represented by portions of single
skeletons too imperfect to allow them to be certainly determined.
I would emphasize here that the vertebrate animals found in the erect
trees are necessarily a selection from the most exclusively terrestrial
forms, and from the smaller species of these. The numerous newt-like
and serpentiform species found in the shales of the coal formation
could not find access to these peculiar repositories, nor could the
larger species of the Labyrinthodonts and their allies, even if they
were in the habit of occasionally prowling in the forests in search of
prey, and this would scarcely be likely, more especially as the waters
must have afforded to them much more abundant supplies of food. Of
the numerous species figured by Fritsch, Cope and Huxley, only a few
approach very near to the forms entrapped in the old hollow Sigillariæ,
though several have characters half batrachian and half reptilian.
Invertebrate Air-breathers.
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