FOSSIL REPTILE. 245 



cycadeous plant, hitherto only known in the 

 Wealden formation. A figure {Ugn. 23) and de- 

 scription of this most interesting relic, will be 

 given in the account of the organic remains of 

 the Wealden in Chap. X. 



Fossil femur of a reptile. (?) — Another discovery, 

 not less important, has recently been made in 

 the easternmost quarry, above Bonchurch, and 

 was communicated to me by S. M. Saxby, Esq. 

 of Bellevue House, Ventnor; a gentleman to 

 whom I am indebted for many interesting local 

 details relating to the strata and fossils of the 

 Undercliff. The specimen referred to is either 

 the humerus (arm -bone) or femur (thigh-bone) 

 of a terrestrial animal, probably of a gigantic 

 lizard. It is broken transversely, and some 

 two or three inches of the middle portion of 

 the shaft are missing, but the articulating ex- 

 tremities are in excellent preservation. So far as 

 a hasty inspection would enable me to form a 

 conjecture of the affinity of this bone to recent 

 types, it appears to approach nearest to the femur 

 of the Monitor or Iguana ; most certainly it bears 

 no resemblance to the corresponding bone of any 

 of the Wealden reptiles that have come under my 

 notice. The lower portion is 9 inches in length, 

 and terminates at its distal extremity in two large 



