Notice regarding Fossil Remahis foimd in Aviu 65 



crocodile, which I conjecture to resemble the long-nosed alliga- 

 tor of the Ganges, the native name of which !ias been corrupted 

 by naturalists into GaviaL It is singular that this description 

 of alligator, as far as we know, is not at present found in the 

 rivers of Ava. 



In the same situation with the bones were found considerable 

 quantities of fossil shells. Some of these were filled with blue 

 clay, but far tlic greater number with hard siliceous matter. 

 The shells which I have seen are of the genus Turbo and genus 

 TelUna *, and the productions of fresh water, although they 

 do not, at the same time, resemble the present shells of the lakes 

 and rivers of the neighbourhood. 



The fossil wood is found in the same situation with the bones 

 and shells. This is in vast quantity, the hills and ravines being 

 strewed with blocks and fragments of various sizes, some of 

 them five and six feet in circumference. 



The fossil remains now enumerated are found on the left bank 

 of the Irawadi, and within four and six miles inland fVom the 

 river, between the twentieth and twenty-first degrees of north 

 latitude, and close to the celebrated wells of Petroleum. The 

 aspect of the country is very remarkable. It is composed of 

 sand hills and narrow ravines, very sterile, and, for a tropical 

 country, very deficient in vegetation. Among the sand there 

 are beds of gravel, with iron-stone and calcareous breccia. The 

 whole is evidently a diluvial formation. The few scattered 

 trees which exist in this tract, consist of some Acacias, a Celtis, 

 a Hhus, a Barringtonia, a ZizT/phus, and some Indian fig trees. 

 To say whether or not the fossil timber found belongs to the 

 same species as these, would be a matter of difficulty : but, up- 

 on the whole, it may be said that the blocks appear too large 

 to warrant a belief that it docs. 



The fossil bones, as well as the shells and wood, are all found 

 superficially, or rather indeed upon the surface, for all of them 

 were more or less exposed. Notwithstanding this exposure, 

 they have suffered very little decomposition. They are not 

 rolled, nor have they suffered from attrition, for their sharp 

 edges and processes are preserved with great distinctness ; tlic 

 inference from which is, that the individuals to which they be- 

 • Probably of the genera Cyclosioma and Cyclas, — Ed. 



OCTOBER— DECEMBER 1827. B 



