373 Geological Society : — 



of the Inferior Oolite, and is its only representative in the sonth- 

 eastern parts of Gloucestershire. 



The sections of Leckharapton Hill, Ravensgate Hill, Cold Com- 

 fort, Birdlip Hill, and Rodborough Hill afford the fossils and 

 details illustrative of this zone. 



In this communication Dr. Wright endeavoured to show that the 

 Inferior Oolite of the South of England admits of a subdivision into 

 three zones of life, and that each zone is characterized by the pre- 

 sence of MoUusca, Echinodermata, and Corals special to each. 

 2nd. That these three zones are very unequally developed in different 

 regions both in England, France, and Germany, the individual beds 

 composing the zones being sometimes thin and feeblj"^ developed (or 

 altogether absent) in some localities, but thick and fully developed 

 in others ; the zone of Am. Murchiso/KE is the one most frequently 

 absent ; that of Am. Humphriesianus has a wider area ; and the zone 

 of Am. Park'uisoni is the most persistent, is widely extended, and is 

 very often the sole representative member of the Inferior Oolite 

 formation. 3rd. That many Lamellibranchiata and a few Gastero- 

 poda are common to the three zones, and that most of the Ammo- 

 nites, Brachiopoda, Echinodermata, and Corals are limited in their 

 range to one of the zones ; but that each zone possesses a fauna 

 which is sufficiently characteristic of it. 4th. The Parkinsoni-zone 

 possesses many species of Mollusca and Echinodermata in common 

 with the Cornbrash ; and the Murchisonae-zone, in like manner, 

 contains many Lamellibranchiata, which appeared for the first time 

 in the Jurensis-stage, although all the Cephalopoda of these two 

 stages are specifically distinct from each other. 



April 20, 1859.— Major-General Portlock, V.P., in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



I. "On some Reptilian Remains from South Africa." By Prof. 

 Owen, F.R.S.. F.G.S. 



Fam. Crocodilia. Galesaurus planiceps, the Flat-headed Gale- 

 saur (from yaXij, polecat, aadpos, lizard), a genus and species founded 

 on an entire cranium and lower jaw. The skull in length less 

 than twice the breadth, much depressed, and flat above. Occipital 

 region sloping from above backward, divided by a high and sharp 

 ridge from the temporal fossse ; these are wide and rhomboidal ; orbits 

 small ; nostril single and terminal. Dentition, i. j^, c.j—^, »i. jg_,., ; 

 all the teeth close-set, except the intervals for the crowns of the 

 long canines when the mouth is closed. Canines of the shape and 

 proportions of those in Mustela and Viverra, without trace of pre- 

 paration of successors in the sockets ; of quite mammalian character. 

 Incisors longish and slender, molars subcompressed ; both with simple 

 pointed crowns, of equal length, and undivided roots. Original 

 transmitted to the British Museum by Governor Sir George Grey, 

 K.C.B. From the sandstone rocks, Rhenosterberg. 



Cynochampsa laniarius, the Dog-toothed Gavial (from Kiiu>y, dog, 

 and xay>//ai, Egyptian name for Crocodiles, applied by Wagner to 



