Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/620

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

6i4 THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY

An opposite extreme of slender body structure is found in the active predaceous types of water-loving amphibianB such as Cricotus, of rapid tnovements, propelled by a long tail fin and with sharp teeth adapted to seizing an actively moving prey. This t}-pe retrogresses into the eel-like, bottom-loving Lysorophus with its slender skull, elongate body propelled by lateral swimming undulations, the limbs relatively useless. Corresponding to the bottom-living fishes are the large, sluggish, broad- faeaded, bottom-living amphibians, euch as Diplocaulus, with heads heavily armored, limbs small and weak, the l»dy propelled by lateral

��Pia, 25. Sklu.. xhd Vebtebsu. Column or DiplocaulM, a typlcsl lolld-, broad- headed AmpblblsD tram the Permlaa ol Dortbem Tciaa. Sp«clmm Id the Ametlcaa Maseuin of Natural HlEtory.

motions of the tail. There were also more powerful, slow-moving, long- headed, alligator-like, terrestrio-aquatic forms, such as the Archegc- saurus of Europe and the fully aquatic Trimerorackis of America. An extreme stage of terrestrial, ground-living evolution with marked reduc- tion of the use of the tail for propulsion is the large-headed Caccops, short-bodied, with limbs of medium size, but with feeble powers of pre- hension in the feet. Radiating around these animals were a number of terrestrial types exhibiting the evolution of dorsal protective armature and spines (Aspidosaurns) ; other types leaJ into the pointed-headed structure and pointed teeth of Tremaiopx.

��Editorial Note : The remaining parts of this Lecture will appear in December or January in book form under the title " Origin and Evolu- tion of Life," from the press of Charles Scribner's Sons.

�� �