TOL. XLVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 340 



of several kinds, oyster-shells, ammonitaB, crustaceous shells, selenitae, and be- 

 lemnitic. 



" The cliffs on the right hand side of Pyrton-passage over the Severn, Glouces- 

 tershire, afforded the body, fig. 6. This, says he, which was likewise found in 

 a stratum of blue clay, not unlike that at Shotover, and also in several pieces, 

 appeared different from the otliers in nothing, but in the want of tubercles, and 

 I flatter myself will serve to throw no small light on the subject. His being not 

 quite so conversant with these cliffs as with the pit at Shotover, prevents his 

 speaking of them so paiticularly as he could wish." 



The general appearance of these fossil bodies gives reason to conjecture, that 

 they are bones belongingto the head or snout of some animal of the fish-kind, 

 or perhaps of some sort of lizard, alligator, or crocodile. 



The piece, fig. 3, whose sides are a little crushed, was found in Oxfordshire, 

 with the piece fig 4 and 5, and may probably have been part of the same head : 

 and if so, it should seem from the 1 rows of teeth along its middle to have been 

 the upper part of the head or snout : for some kinds of fishes have teeth in the 

 palate or upper part of the mouth, but we know of none that have teeth along 

 the middle of the lower part : there a tongue most commonly is placed, and the 

 piece, fig. 4, has a hollow or channel well adapted to contain a tongue. The 

 teeth in the palate of the lupus piscis, and likewise of some other fishes, are fre- 

 quently found fossil, of various sizes and shapes, being what are called (very im- 

 properly) bufonitae. When the 2 pieces 3, 4, are brought together, their size, 

 figure, and appearance, greatly strengthen the above conjecture : and it is worthy 

 observing, that the teeth are hooked inward, to prevent the prey when taken 

 fi-om escaping. 



The piece, fig. 6, found in Gloucestershire, serves likewise to confirm the 

 same opinion : for the toothing in the middle almost proves that part to have 

 been the palate of some animal; an animal of the same genus too with fig. 3 and 

 4 ; though its having no tubercles, and being more solid, show it to have been 

 of some different species. 



Mr. B. remembered not any fossil bodies like these, mentioned by authors, 

 nor could he point out any animal to which they might with certainty be im- 

 puted. Animal substances, before unknown, are met with frequently in the 

 bowels of the earth ; for the inhabitants of seas and rivers have been hitherto so 

 imperfectly described, that we know but little of their internal structure ; and 

 many sorts we have never seen or heard of. 



XX. An Abstract of a Discourse entitled. The History of the Emperor Tetricus, 

 explained and illustrated by Medals ; written in French by Mr. Claude Gros de 



