History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Lacerta. REPTILES. SAURIA. 15(31. In the year 1791, M. G. A. Deluc communicated to Cuvier the calcaneumof a crocodile from Brentford. It was found associated with the remainsof the extinct elephant, rhinoceros, &c. in the Lacustrine silt of thatdistrict, one of the members of the modern or superficial strata. Baron Cuvierseems to consider it as having belonged to a species distinct from the recentkinds. If it be also distinct from the other fossil species, and have notbeen washed out of its original repository in some older bed, it must be consideredas the most recent of the extinct species —Cuv. Recti, v. 2. p. 169.2. In the clay of Sheppey, the jaw of a crocodile has been found, Webster,Geol. Trans, ii. 194. Cuv. Rech. v. 2. 165—In the tabular view of the fossilsof the London clay, in the Geology of England and Wales, it is stated," That the remains of a crocodile very nearly approaching to the charactersof existing species, and especially to the crocodile, a museau aigu, have recentlybeen discovered in the London clay at Islington."3. In the Geology of England and Wales, p. 172, " it is said, Mr Johnstonof Bristol possesses-a very perfect head of a crocodile, found in Purbeck;but the character of the matrix is not quite decisive, as to whether it belongsto these or to Portland beds."4. Baron Cuvier, Rech. v. 2. 161, notices the occurrence of a crocodile inthe iron sand of Tilgate Forest, Sussex, and refers to Mr MantelTs Fossilsof the South Downs, p. 47-5. In the Geology of England and Wales it is stated, that " A well characterisedcrocodile, but of a species distinct both from those now known toexist, from those found in a fossil state in Germany, and from one, at least,of the French fossil species, has been dug up at Gibraltar, near Oxford, andis now in the collection of that Univerisity ; it is from a bed towards theupper part of this oolitic system, perhaps the Cornbrash," p. 208.6. The alum-shale of Whitby, so fertile in organic remains, has furnishedthe skeleton of a crocodile, a figure of which has been published bv the Rev.George Young, in the Edin. Phil. Journ. No. xxv. p. 76. tab. i'ii. In thelength of the snout it approaches the Gavial. Mr Young is disposed to considerthe skeleton found at Whitby in 1758, a drawing and description ofwhich, by Mr Wooller, appeared in the Phil. Trans. 1. p. 786. tab. xxx., asprobably belonging to the same species.II.Megalosaurus.— This genus was instituted by Professor Bucklandfor the reception of the relics of an animal of great size,found in the calcareous slate of Stonesheld, near Woodstock,Oxford. It is of a mixed character, exhibiting resemblancesboth to the Monitors and the Crocodiles. A portion of the jaw, afemur, several vertebra?, and other bones of doubtful character,have been procured. The portion of the jaw is straight. Theteeth are compressed, pointed, recurved, with the cutting edgecrenulated. They do not adhere to the jaw, but they are protectedexternally byits elevated margin. Length probably approaching40 feet.—Geol. Trans. 2d Series, 1 . tab. xl.-xliv. MrMantill has found the remains of this animal (probably a differentspecies) in the ironsand of Tilgate Forest.— Cuvier Rech.v. 2. 343.III. Iguanodon.— This genus, was instituted by Mr Mantill, in apaper read before the Royal Society of London, February 10.