6 M. Pomel on the Fakeontology of Auvergne, 



any obstacle in the way is surely to be lamented, and espe- 

 cially obstacles so serious as those alluded to, as regards in- 

 valids. In sailing ships. West Indiamen, attention is now 

 being paid to ventilation : — improved methods have been in- 

 troduced in many of them ; and on this account, and on 

 account of the convenience and comforts they afford, they 

 are preferred by some passengers, notwithstanding they are 

 commonly nearly twice as long in making the homeward 

 voyage. The competition should have the attention of the 

 Managing Committee, or the Directors of the Company, who, 

 could they secure comfort as well as speed, in the transit, 

 might rest secure of their vessels having the preference, at 

 least in the great majority of instances. 



I am sure your humanity will find an excuse for these 

 latter remarks, which I offer with the hope that they may 

 meet the eye of some influential person belonging to the 

 Company, well disposed to have the West India Mail 

 Steamers made as comfortable and as wholesome as pos- 

 sible for passengers, and as profitable as possible to the pro- 

 prietors, — a union of interests much to be desired. I remain, 

 my dear Sir, with much esteem, faithfully yours, 



J. Davy. 



To Professor Jameson, Edinburgh. 



New Considerations on the Palceontoloc/y of Auvergne. 

 By A. Pomel. 



The numerous fossil bones contained in the formations of 

 Auvergne have already been either described or mentioned 

 by many authors ; but they have too often been contented 

 with superficial and incomplete researches. Some have ne- 

 glected to study carefully the different deposits in which they 

 lie, and others have inconsiderately established ill-defined 

 species on mere individual variations. M. De Blainville even, 

 in his beautiful and classical Osteographies has often allowed 

 his mind to be pre-occupied with theoretical notions which he 

 still maintains, almost alone against all other palaeontologists, 



