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per, Dr. Hunter, Mr. Ray, Mr. Joshua Platt, Mr. Da Costa, Mi- 

 John Hunter, and many other gentlemen distinguished for their 

 avidity of research, and their extensive knowledge respecting 

 the astonishing productions of nature. The Academics Scientiarum 

 Imperialis Petropolitance Comment arii, contain some very excellent 

 papers on these subjects, by Professor Pallas. The Societatis Region 

 Scientiarum Gottingensis Commentarii, the Memoires de I' Academic 

 Koyale des Sciences, also contain several very instructive papers. In 

 the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, some in- 

 teresting papers have lately appeared, by Thomas Jefferson, Esq. 

 Dr. Wistar, and Mr. Turner, respecting the bones of various un- 

 known animals, which have been discovered in that part of the 

 world. 



In 1781 were published, some very interesting observations on 

 these subjects, in the Physiological Disquisitions of Mr. William 

 Jones. 



In 1793 was published, by Mr. Martin, of Buxton, a work, con- 

 taining figures and descriptions of Petrifactions collected in Derby- 

 shire. Of this work only seven numbers have been yet published. 

 The figures are given with such fidelity, and the descriptions with 

 so much accuracy, that it is only by supposing the natural history of 

 these substances is not so generally known, as to have excited a suffi- 

 cient degree of interest in collectors, that we can account for the pub- 

 lic demand not having called for their more frequent publication. 



Cuvier, in a paper given into La Societ6 d'Histoire Naturelle, at 

 Paris, has published some important remarks on the fossil remains 

 of various unknown animals ; and has likewise announced his inten- 

 tion of publishing his inquiries on this subject, on a very extended 

 scale. From this work so much information is to be expected, that, 

 I doubt not, its publication will prove an important epoch in the 

 history of this science. 



It must, however, be acknowledged, that during the last fifty years, 



