302 



of the East Indies, generally attain. Of these fossil animals having, 

 therefore, belonged to some species of animals which have been con- 

 fusedly ranged by Linnaeus under the species Lacerta monitor, and of 

 which Daudin has formed the genus Tupinambis, there can remain no 

 doubt. 



The polished section of a specimen from the Dorsetshire coast, which 

 I obtained from Mr. Strange's Museum, displays the remains of an ani- 

 mal of this kind. In the remains of the head, teeth, vertebrae, &c. the 

 characters of this animal may be detected. 



LETTER XXL 



ORNITHOLITES. 



1 HE various coloured and figured stones, bearing accidentally the ap- 

 pearance of birds, need be here noticed only for the purpose of ob- 

 serving, that to such accidentally figured stones the ancients gave the 

 names of Hieracites and Perdicites. Nor would it be necessary to mention 

 here the pretended petrifactions of birds'-nests, eggs, &c. of Lesser, Ges- 

 ner, Baccius, and others, but to remark, that there is every reason for 

 believing that all these were either stones of the kind just mentioned, or 

 mere incrustrations, including the substances, which had themselves un- 

 dergone no change. Specimens of this kind may be obtained at Mat- 

 lock, in Derbyshire, and at various other places, where the water is sur- 

 charged with lime. 



