ROOM III. TELEOSAURUS CHAPMANNI. 181 



this species of Teleosaurus, nine feet in length ; the cranium is 

 very fine, the vertebral column is arched, and almost perfect 

 to the extremity of the tail ; a row of dermal scutes ex- 

 tends along the dorsal region. Of the fore-limbs the 

 humerus only remains ; but of the hinder right limb, the 

 femur, bones of the leg, and many of the feet, are preserved. 

 This fossil is probably from the same locality as the one 

 above described. The lias of the Yorkshire coast is celebrated 

 for the abundance and variety of the remains of fossil plants, 

 and of reptiles and other animals, that may be easily obtained 

 by a little assiduity and perseverance. 



There is also on the same ledge part of the cranium and 

 jaws with teeth of another individual from Saltwich near 

 Whitby ; presented to the Museum in 1834 ; it is figured in 

 Dr. Buckland's Bridgewater Essay, pi. XXV. 



On the top of this Wall-case there is a much larger and 

 finer specimen of the Teleosaurus than either of the above. 

 The skeleton from the point of the muzzle to the end of 

 the tail is preserved ; most of the bones of the extremities 

 are exposed, and numerous remains of the osseous dermal 

 scutes. In the Case above the Teleosaurus priscm, there 

 is an example of this species about seven or eight feet in 

 length. 



Dr. Buckland figures a specimen (pi. XXV.) which he 

 describes as one of the finest of fossil Teleosanri yet disco- 

 vered. " Its entire length, if perfect, would be about eighteen 

 feet, the breadth of the head one foot ; the snout is long and 

 slender as in the Gavial ; the teeth, 140 in number, are all 

 small, slender, and placed in nearly a straight line. Some of 

 the unguical phalanges that are preserved on the hind feet of 

 this animal, show that the toes were terminated by long and 

 sharp claws, adapted for motion on land." 1 



The anatomical structure and natural affinities of this 

 species of saurian are fully considered by Professor Owen, 

 in the Reports on British Fossil Reptiles, to which I must 

 refer the scientific inquirer ; it will suffice for our present 

 purpose to state the leading characters which distinguish it. 2 



1 Bridgewater Essay, p. 253. 



2 British Association Report for 1841 ; pp. < 280. 



