288 



gable Cuvier proceeded to a careful anatomical examination of these 

 specimens, with the hope of furnishing some information respecting their 

 origin. This undertaking he conceived to be more particularly necessary, 

 since the splendid work of M. Faujas contains no really illustrative osteo- 

 logical remarks ; and since M. Faujas considers M. Adrian Camper as 

 being of the same opinion with him, as to the agreement of this fossil 

 animal with the crocodile ; whilst the animal to which the latter gen- 

 tleman refers this fossil is essentially different from the crocodile, although 

 placed by Linnaeus with it, under the genus Lacerta. 



To M. Adrian Camper we are indebted for the knowledge of the real 

 characters of this enormous animal, known only at present as a fossil. 

 By the observations of this gentleman, corroborated by those of M. Cu- 

 vier, which I shall now place before you, I trust you will be fully satis- 

 fied respecting the original nature of this wonderful animal. 



Dr. Peter Camper had been led to the conclusion, that this animal 

 should be placed among the cetaceous animals; 1st, from its being ac- 

 companied by marine remains ; 2dly, from the bones being polished ; 

 3dly, from the lower jaw having, externally, numerous openings for the 

 passage of the nerves ; 4thly, from the roots of the teeth being solid ; 

 5thly, from their being teeth on the palate ; 6thly, from the vertebroe 

 being without sutures ; and, 7thly, from the phalanges and ribs being of 

 a different form from those of the crocodile. 



All these circumstances, except the first, are allowed by M. Cuvier, 

 to prove that this animal was not a crocodile ; but he does not admit that 

 any of them prove its having been a whale ; since, in several reptiles, 

 and particularly in the monitors and iguanas, the bones are polished, 

 numerous openings exist in the lower jaw, the roots of the teeth are bony 

 and solid, and the vertebrae are without suture. The fifth circumstance 

 proves also, that the animal could neither be a cetaceous animal, nor a 

 crocodile, since none of these animals have teeth in the palate. 



Dr. Camper, whilst distinguishing this fossil animal from the cro- 

 codile, observes, that in the fossil jaw-bones of St. Peter's Mountain, a 

 small secondary tooth is formed, with its enamel and solid root, within 



