1851.] 



325 



The Oz-ior. The odor arising from the graves was not perceived unless in close 

 contact with the remains, and then it was but faint and slightly disagreeable, and 

 when the air came in contact with it, it was immediately dispelled. The bones, 

 after being removed, had an earthy odor, and not at all disagreeable. 



The Sl-ull.ln all instances where the sutures of the skull had not been com- 

 pletely obliterated previous to death, by old age, &c., I observed the partial or 

 complete separation of the bones, in many instances lying side by side, complete- 

 ly separated, and in good condition. 



The Hair. I had expected to find much more hair than I did ; some few speci- 

 mens were found well preserved; one belonged to a young man, and was as 

 smooth, and in as fine a state, as if the hair-dresser had just left him, but he had 

 not been buried many years. In the majority of cases where it was found it was 

 only in small quantities, and was torn with the utmost facility. 



The stature of many of the individuals was remarkable, judging from the bones, 

 many were over six feet, and many over six feet five inches in size. Quite a 

 number of iron handles (belonging to the coffins) remained, either in a state of 

 partial or complete oxidation, and remains of breast plates were also found, but 

 the engraving was totally unintelligible. 



The interring of jewelry does not appear to have been fashionable in those days, 

 or else the workmen overlooked it ; only a piece of one ear-ring was found, and 

 that was as highly polished as if it had just come from the hands of the jeweller. 



From the discrepancy regarding dates, these are all the facts which I have been 

 able to obtain; but having heard from good authority that a similar enterprise will 

 be undertaken shortly, I am in hopes I shall be able to obtain more facts on this 

 interesting subject." 



Dr. Leidy exhibited a number of fossil reptilian and mammalian remains, 

 which he characterized verbally as follows : 



CiMOLiASAL'Rus MAGNUS, Leidy. A saurian established upon thirteen vertebrae, 

 apparently from one individual, found in the Green Sand of New Jersy, and pre- 

 served in the Museum of the Academy. Two of the vertebrae are posterior 

 dorsal, the remainder lumbar. All of them have the processes broken off, ex- 

 cepting one of the dorsal, which still preserves its transverse processes nearly 

 entire. 



The vertebral bodies are broader than they are long, being compressed cylin- 

 droidal in form, gradually expanding from their middle to the angular edge of the 

 articular surface. The latter are slightly concave, about one-half the depth of 

 those of Poecilopleuron Bucklandii, Deslch., with the centre a little prominent 

 and becoming slightly convex towards the edges. 



The transverse processes remaining in one of the specimens of dorsal vertebrae 

 are prominent, thick, irregularly cylindroid tubercles, projecting from the middle 

 of the side of the vertebral body, with an oblique articular facet for the rib. 



In the lumbar vertebrae the transverse processes incline downwards from the 

 lower part of the bodies laterally, as in Mososaurus. 



