296 



PALAEONTOLOGY 



REPTILES. 



Froir. 



Soft 35-50 



Hard 6450 



100-00 



Snake. 



31-04 

 69-96 



100-00 



Porpoise. 



Soft 35-90 



Hard 64-10 



MAMMALS. 

 Ox. 



31-00 

 69-00 



Lion. 



27-70 



72-30 



Lizard. 



46-67 

 53-33 



100-00 



Man. 



31-03 



68-97 



100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 



BIRDS. 

 Goose. 



Soft 32-91 



Hard 67-09 



100-00 



Turkey. 



30-49 

 69-51 



100-00 



Hawk. 



26-72 

 73-28 



100-00 



The chemical nature of the hardening particles, and of the 

 soft basis of bone, is exemplified in the subjoined table, includ- 

 ing a species of each of the four classes of Vertebrate : — 



Chemical Composition of Bones. 



The most common change which bones first undergo is the 

 loss of more or less of their original soft and soluble basis. 

 This effect of long interment is readily tested by applying the 

 specimen to the tongue, when the affinity of the pores of the 

 earthy constituent, after having lost the gelatine lor fluid, is so 

 great, that the specimen adheres to the tongue like a piece of 

 dry chalk. Pours and teeth in this state quickly absorb a 



