152 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



afforded by the modification of the organs of progressive motion. It may, 

 therefore, be inferred, that those orders in the present received systems of Mam- 

 malogy which are founded on characters afforded by the teeth alone, are less 

 natural, and less important groups, than those which are based on modifications 

 of the locomotive extremities ; and a fortiori, on those which combine such 

 distinctive characters with equally characteristic peculiarities of dentition. At 

 present there is no evidence to determine what was the nature of the extremities 

 of the Toxodon. but Mr. Owen is of opinion, that although it cannot be positively 

 affirmed the genus may not be referable to the Muticata of Linnjeus, yet, from 

 the development of the nasal cavity, and the frontal sinus, that it is extremely 

 improbable the habits of the species were so strictly aquatic as the entire absence 

 of hinder extremities would occasion. 



" In conclusion, he pointed out the interesting fact, that the recent animal 

 most analogous to the Toxodon, combining the characters of a Pachyderm and a 

 Rodent, and, from its aquatic habits, called the Water-hog, or Hydrochcerus, 

 exists only in South America — the same region in which this gigantic fossil, 

 possessing similar aberrant peculiarities, has been discovered." — Athencezim. 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF ATHENS. 



A Society of Natural History appears to have been recently established at 

 Athens. It was addressed, at its first meeting, by M. Nicolaides Levadiefs, 

 a medical officer under the Greek government. After pointing out the advantages 

 to be derived from Agriculture, of which the Greeks are now comparatively 

 ignorant, although Sicily was in ancient times the granary of Rome, and after 

 adverting to Holland and England, as proofs of what skill and industry might 

 achieve even with an ungrateful soil, and under comparatively rude climates, M. 

 Levadiefs proceeded as follows : — " The Greeks formerly worked silver mines in 

 Attica and in some of the islands in the Archipelago ; but gold came to them 

 through Macedonia and Thrace, from Pannonia and Illyria. Hence the gold coins 

 of ancient Greece are so few, while those of the Macedonian kings are still numer- 

 ous. The marble quarries of Pentelicus and Paros are too well known to need 

 being mentioned. Chromium has been found in Euboea ; Milos is rich in silver, 

 vitriol, and alum ; Siphnas possesses silver ores ; Naxos maintains a trade in 

 emery ; Santorin is rich in steatite, 'or soap-stone, which is much sought for, 

 chiefly to make the luting of water-pipes. I shall not say any thing of our 

 numerous mineral springs, the waters of which are so serviceable to suffering 

 humanity. Unfortunately, mines cannot be expected to repay the cost of work- 

 ing them, unless where coals are at hand and in abundance. It shall therefore be 

 the business of the Society of Natural History to prosecute the much-desired 

 examination, as to the nature and quality of the stone-coal discovered at Negro- 



