LITERARY AND SCfENTIFIC. 367 



ati elevation in a north-westerly direction. At this time vegetation proceeded at no 

 remote distance, but all central and eastern England, central and north-eastern 

 France, with a large portion of Germany, Poland, and Russia, must have been 

 beneath the surface of the ocean. Probably the Malvern hills, and a great part of 

 the range extending northward to the Abberley hills may have formed the north- 

 western boundary to the waves, and suffered much loss and degradation by the 

 resistance they opposed to them. 



Before concluding his interesting details, Mr. Morris observed that he had in- 

 tended to have entered fully upon the lias group on the present occasion, having, by 

 the kindness of a talented lady, drawings on a very large scale of the Saurian reptiles 

 that at that time reigned the terror of the deep ; however, though he must defer his 

 description of that formation, still as some remains of the animals adverted to had 

 been found in the new red sandstone, he should not unfittingly introduce them. 

 The drawings seemed to excite very great interest, and the lecturer proceeded to 

 describe the various species of the Icthyosauri and Plesiosauri, adopting the names 

 proposed by Mr. Hawkins, in his recent work upon the subject, taken from the form 

 of the bones in the hand, viz. Tcthyosaurus Chiroparamekostinus, and Icthyosaurus 

 Chirostrongulostinus. These animals differed from crocodiles in having their 

 nostrils immediately under their eyes, whereas crocodiles have their nostrils at the 

 very tip or anterior part of the upper jaw, and in not having paws for locomotion on 

 dry land. The teeth of both animals resembled each other. The Icthyosauri 

 subsisted on ammonites, fish, and their own species. The Plesiosauri were dis- 

 tinguished by their cervical vertebrae exceeding in number even those of the swan. 

 They swam on the surface of the water, and fed on pterodactyles and fish. Perhaps, 

 said the lecturer, I cannot do better in closing the subject than quote the remarkable 

 language of the gentleman before alluded to, in reference to these singular beings, 

 though without entirely acquiescing in his ideas. " Icthyosauri and Plesiosauri 

 filled up the measure of their years long ere Eden was planted, and the dominion of 

 the man made of the red earth acknowledged. Their's was the pre-Adamite — the 

 just-emerged-from-chaos — planet ; through periods known only to the great Eternal, 

 their's an ettrich-world — uninhabitate, sunless, and moonless, — and seared in the 

 angry light of supernal fii-e ! Their's a fierce anark thing scorched to a horrible 

 shadow which denned that dreadful earth — ^Xone— ^scaring even solitude. How 

 did they gloat over the million medusae, the boneless zoophytes of an element — wide 

 as the world, and all their own— till dark night fell down upon them ! The 

 adamantine grapples of Time at last came upon them. He watched the last struggle 

 of the last horrible ]}ersons of their frightful race, and forewent the execution of 

 the bond that all living are bound by." (Great applause.) 



Dr. Streeten then proposed the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Morris for the 

 skilful manner with which he had discussed a subject surrounded with so many 

 difficulties — he observed, that of course there were upon some points varying opinions, 

 but there could be but one opinion as to the merit justly due to the talented lecturer. 

 O. J. Lloyd, Esq. seconded the motion, and Mr. Morris briefly acknowledged the 

 compliment paid him amidst general gratulations. 



ON THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC LIFE. 



A lecture on this subject was delivered by J. H. Walsh, Esq., at the 

 Guildhall, Worcester, Tuesday, Nov. 18, illustrated with numerous 

 drawings and specimens. 



The lecturer commenced by adverting to the difficulties attending a subject of this 

 kind, when treated of before an audience composed of novices as well as those more 

 advanced in scientific pursuits. He, however, considered his concern to be more 

 especially with beginners in the science of zoology, and he should, therefore, 

 proceed to define organized beings in general, after which he should subdivide them 

 into animals and vegetables, and then give a rapid survey of the animal kingdom. 

 In pursuance of this object, he gave the general characteristics of organized beings, 

 connected with their origin, growth, and composition, and particularly noticed the 

 NO. V. 3 c 



