x 
remoter epochs of his district, could hardly fail to have his interest 
excited by the analogous evidence of the past history of his own race. 
I was therefore led to add the facts that came to my notice, and so 
attempt to fill up the hiatus between the last geological change and 
the existing period. Now, I am glad to say, many counties have 
their Archeological meetings. Last year a new Society, called the 
Paleontographical, was formed for editing and describing the fossils 
of England: this shows an increasing interest in these pursuits, which 
is very gratifying. I have principally confined my observations to the 
fossils of Sussex. Some of the subjects of Professor Owen’s descrip- 
tions, many of the Asteriade described by Professor Forbes, and a 
few Corals by Mr. Lonsdale, are, however, from the Chalk formation 
of Kent or neighbouring counties. 
I have endeavoured to avoid as much as possible unnecessary techni- 
calities, for many persons are deterred from reading scientific works 
through the fear of meeting what are called ‘hard words.” ‘The 
coining of names from the Greek and Latin languages in order to de- 
signate fossil species is, nevertheless, absolutely necessary; but the 
day, I hope, is long gone by when the dead languages were used 
to conceal truth and mystify the understanding. Every thought 
that can elevate the mind and improve the heart is capable of being 
expressed in our own language: even the advantage to the geologist 
of different countries, of Latin descriptions and names of fossils, de- 
creases daily as the cultivation of the different livmg languages of 
Europe increases. 
In the followimg pages I have entered into no speculative inquiry. 
Geology is not at variance with the sacred truths of Scripture; and it 
must be borne in mind that every fossil, as well as recent being, is the 
record of the will of God. Paleontological inquiry points out the 
wonderful power and wisdom of God at all periods of time; shows 
that in extinct beings the same law of excellent adaptation of means to 
