ROOM III. FOSSIL TURTLES OP THE WEALDEN. 155 



(" Fossils of Tilgate Forest," 1827, PL VI. and VII.) Water- 

 worn comminuted bones and costal plates of Chelonian rep- 

 tiles, are abundant in the Wealden deposits of the Isle of 

 Purbeck, and Isle of Wight, and in the clays and sand- 

 stones of the Weald of Sussex. Their occurrence in the 

 Purbeck beds was made known by Mr. Webster; and in the 

 Wealden, by my early gleanings from the strata of Tilgate 

 Forest. 



With the increase of collectors, and activity of research, 

 that followed the publication of my works on the Fossils 

 of Sussex, remains of Chelonians of considerable interest 

 were brought to light ; but with the exception of a few almost 

 perfect examples of the carapace and plastron from near 

 Swanage, and considerable detached portions of the same 

 parts from the Hastings beds of Sussex, I am not aware 

 that more instructive relics have been discovered than those 

 in the Case before us, which were collected by me nearly 

 thirty years ago. 1 



In my " Fossils of Tilgate Forest," (published in 1827,) 

 PI. VI. and VII., 2 are figured costal-plates of the carapace, 

 portions of the plastron, and of the scapular arch, which are 

 referable to three distinct groups of Chelonians. 



CHELONIA Bellii. (" Medals of Creation," p. 776) Ribs 

 and portions of the marginal border of the carapace, and 

 plates of the plastron, with a smooth outer surface, referable 

 to a large species of marine turtle, were among the first 

 vestiges of Chelonians obtained from the quarries near 

 Cuckfield in 1820. Some of these indicate a total length of 

 three feet. The most remarkable character in the inconsi- 

 derable portions of the skeletons of this extinct reptile that 

 have come under my examination, is the narrow dimensions 

 to which the intercostal spaces are reduced, from the ossifica- 

 tion and confluence of the ribs extending to within a short 

 distance of their distal extremities. Professor Owen states 

 that in the convexity of the under side of the vertebral ribs, 



1 Notice of the occurrence of three kinds of Chelonians in the strata 

 of Tilgate Forest, is given in my " Fossils of the South Downs," (p. 47) 

 published in 1822; and of Mr. Lyell's recognition of their analogy to 

 specimens from Stonesfield. 



2 With the exception of fig. 8, PI. V., which later discoveries have 

 proved to belong to a Crocodilian and not to a Chelonian reptile. 



