158 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Jan. 27,
remarked upon the resemblance of the beak in the latter to that of
the Tortoises, especially Trionyx, and suggested that the jaws might
have had a horny covering.
Dr. Meryon inquired as to the implantation of the teeth in the jaws of Hyperodapedon, and suggested that the position and direction of the orbits were not accordant with terrestrial habits, and also that the absence of processes on the ribs indicated a flexibility of the body consistent with a fluviatile mode of life.
Prof. Huxley showed that no conclusion could be drawn from the want of processes on the ribs or the position of the orbits as to the habits of the animal, and remarked that the processes in Sphenodon were not anchylosed to the ribs; he considered it possible, but not probable, that the jaws had a horny covering. He stated that in using the term "poikilitic," he was desirous of indicating that while several marine formations with changing forms of life succeeded each other, the terrestrial fauna may, in certain cases, have been continuous. He believed that terrestrial forms were at least as persistent as marine.
Mr. Carruthers remarked that the Permian vegetation showed Mesozoic affinities, and in fact that the commencement of the Mesozoic flora was to be sought in the Permian.
January 27th, 1869.
Arnold Lupton, Esq., Salter Gate, Chesterfield, and Dr. George Rogers, of Longwood Asylum, Bristol, were elected Fellows of the Society.
The following communications were read:—
1. Notes on Graptolites and allied Fossils occurring in Ireland. By William Hellier Baily, F.L.S., F.G.S.
The remarks I am about to offer upon a group of fossils of great importance in determining strata of Silurian age is principally intended to record the species I have been enabled to identify in Irish strata. I shall avoid discussing the question as to the exact position Graptolites occupy in the animal kingdom, except to observe that the preponderance of evidence is in favour of their alliance with the Hydrozoa; nor will I give any details of their structure, this subject having been lately so ably discussed by Mr. William Carruthers in the new edition of 'Siluria,' and in his paper entitled "A revision of the British Graptolites"*. Dr. H. A. Nicholson has also added considerably to our knowledge of this interesting group of extinct Zoophytic organisms.
I will now briefly allude to the localities in Ireland where these fossils occur, nearly all of them having been visited by me, and
- Geological Magazine, vol. v. p. 64 (1868).
