UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 69 



and of the discussions you hear ; and by some- 

 times recording those passing thoughts which 

 suggest themselves to every reflecting person. 

 By thus frequently marking the state of your 

 mind, you can hereafter judge of its progress ; 

 and you will be able to correct the prejudices 

 which may have impeded its steady improve- 

 ment. 



29th. I begged of my uncle to describe some 

 more of the remarkable animals that have been 

 found in a fossil state. He readily complied; 

 and as it is possible that I may one day have 

 an opportunity of seeing some of these curious 

 petrifactions in the museums, I carefully noted 

 what he told us. 



" One of those huge oviparous quadrupeds 

 to which the name Monitor has] been given, was 

 found at Maestricht, in soft limestone rock 

 mixed with flints. The skeleton was about 

 twenty-four feet long ; the head four feet ; and 

 from the great breadth and strength of the tail, 

 the animal is supposed to have inhabited the sea. 



a There are but two living species of sloths 

 known ; and two fossil animals have been found 

 which seem nearly allied to them. One of these 

 animals, the megalonix, is of the size of an ox ; 

 and was first discovered in a limestone cave in 

 Virginia. The other, the megatherium, is as 

 large as a rhinoceros; its remains have been 



