6 4 



EXTINCT MONSTERS 



contains a magnificent series of Ichthyosauri, about thirty in 

 number. Of these a large number were obtained through the 

 exertions of the late Mr. T. Hawkins, a Somersetshire gentleman, 

 who was a most ardent collector of fossil reptiles, and who devoted 

 himself with great enthusiasm and unsparing energy to the acquisi- 

 tion of a truly splendid collection of these most interesting relics 

 of the past. Nearly seventy years ago he arranged for the pur- 

 chase of his treasures by the authorities of the British Museum, 

 and thus his collection became the property of the nation. 



His specimens were figured and described by him in two large 

 folio volumes. The first was published in 1834, under the title, 



FIG. 8. Ichthyosaurus intermedius. 



Memoirs of the Ichthyosauri and Plesiosauri ; his second, with the 

 same plates, in 1842, under the quaint title of The Book of the 

 Great Sea-Dragons. The large lithographic drawings of his fine 

 specimens were beautifully executed by Scharf and O'Neil. The 

 plates are the only really valuable part of these two curious and 

 ill-written books. 



Mr. Hawkins tells us that his youthful attention was directed 

 to the Lias quarries, near Edgarly, in Somersetshire, in consequence 

 of some strange reports. It was said that the bones of giants and 

 infants had, at distant intervals, been found in them. These 

 quarries he visited, and, by offers of generous payment, induced 



