OF CREATION. 195 



Reptiles abounded throughout this period, and 

 exhibit many forms no less interesting than they are 

 remarkable. Many of them seem to have been more 

 or less exclusively marine in their habits, but many 

 others were partly, and some entirely, terrestrial ; 

 these latter exhibiting peculiarities of structure which 

 render them well worthy of minute description. 



The reptiles of the oolites include one genus 

 strictly marine in addition to the Ichthyosaurus and 

 Plesiosaurus ; and there were also several animals of 

 the same tribe whose habits were aquatic, although, 

 from peculiarities of structure, they are referred to the 

 crocodilian group. These chiefly resemble the crocodile 

 or garial of the Ganges, a species especially organized 

 for the capture of fish. There are also several others 

 exhibiting analogies with existing crocodilian reptiles. 

 I shall not, however, dwell on the slight differences of 

 structure by which this group is characterised, but, 

 after saying a few words concerning the third true 

 marine reptile, and a gigantic whale-like reptile called 

 Cetiosaurus,* proceed at once to some species still 

 more gigantic in comparison, which at the same 

 period inhabited the land. 



Associated with the remains of the long-necked 

 plesiosaur there are found in some of the clay beds of 

 the oolites the teeth and bones of several species of 

 animals very nearly allied to that genus in many 

 important characters, but of enormously greater size. 

 These species seem to have been intermediate between 

 the Plesiosaurus and Ichthyosaurus, the teeth, verte- 

 brae, bones of the extremities, &c. being more like the 



e/os), a whale ; aavpog (sawros), a lizard or saurian. 



