C 77 ] 



XII. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



RECENT DISCOVERY OF BONES OF THE IGUANODON. 



AN interesting specimen of this fossil reptile has been lately 

 discovered in the Shanklin sand formation, in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Maidstone in Kent. The quarry in which these 

 remains occur consists of many strata, regularly alternating, of com- 

 pact limestone, and of sand more or less loose. Each stratum is of 

 the thickness of from 8 inches to 12 or 14 -, and the alternation of 

 the two species of beds is remarkably regular and equal. 



It unfortunately happened that the blast by which these remains 

 were brought to light was inserted into what proved to be the centre 

 of this very deranged specimen, so that the whole mass containing it 

 was shattered into many pieces. By the great care bestowed upon 

 them, however, by the very intelligent proprietor of the quarry, Mr. 

 W. H. Bensted, nearly all the detached pieces have been collected, 

 and the various bones carefully cleared from the rock which forms their 

 matrix. These remains, together with the other fossil bodies con- 

 tained in the same strata, cannot fail to prove of deep interest in a 

 geological point of view. That both the sand and the limestone are 

 marine formations there can be no doubt, for though wood and vege- 

 table substances are not uncommon in these beds, yet the limestone 

 abounds in ammonites, sharks' teeth, and other sea productions, while 

 a small sea shell was also found fixed upon one of the bones of the 

 iguanodon. These bones (which have been recognised on the spot as 

 belonging to this species, by Mr. Mantell,) consist of two femora, a 

 tibia, fibula, 15 vertebrae, 2 clavicles, 2 claws, 2 teeth, some ribs, 

 &c. One of the femora is 32 inches long, and its position with 

 respect to the mineral beds inclosing it is worthy of particular atten- 

 tion, as throwing much light upon the manner of the deposition of 

 these beds. It stands nearly in a vertical position as regards the 

 strata, which are nearly horizontal j and it projects from the solid 

 limestone bed, which embraces its lower extremity, and passes nearly 

 through the superincumbent bed of sandstone. Here is distinct 

 proof that these two beds, now so different in their consistency, were, 

 in the one case, loose sand, and in the other, tenacious mud, at the 

 period when this shattered and decomposing body sunk to the bottom 

 of the st a, and became covered up by an abundant deposition. Nor 

 can we doubt that this deposition took place most rapidly, as this long 

 bone must then have been in a loose and moveable condition, (proba- 

 bly only attached to the other bones by strong integuments,) and 

 could not long have retained an upright position. But if this infer- 

 ence be just with respect to the nature of the deposition of those 

 two beds, we cannot avoid coming to the very same conclusion with 

 regard to all the other beds of the series, of a nature precisely similar, 

 and extending to a depth of many feet, in the quarry. 



We have thus, in this instance, proof of marine origin, and of a ra- 

 pidity of deposition greater than we can well calculate upon, in exist. 



