Miscellanies. 173 
been deposited in a fresh water lake or estuary, or in the bed of a 
mighty river, on the sides of which lived and flourished plants and 
animals analogous to those of tropical climates ; these strata compose 
- a great fresh water formation below the chalk. . 
“ It was fortunate that the ardent and intelligent mind of Mr. M., 
enlightened by anatomical and physiological science, connected with 
his professional pursuits, perceived the true value of his discoveries, 
but to make them properly appreciated by his own countrymen, the 
testimony of Baron Cuvier was wanting. ‘This illustrious anatomist 
pronounced the Iguanodon, discovered by Mr. M., to be a reptile 
more extraordinary than all those previously known. It is indeed 
most extraordinary, not only from being the largest amphibious or 
terrestrial animal known, but from its peculiar structure, as an her- 
bivorous masticating reptile. These observations are made chiefly 
to prove to country readers, how much may be done for the promo- 
tion of science, even in situations not favorable to its pursuit, at a dis- 
tance from public museums, and removed from the excitement pro- 
duced by associating with others engaged in kindred studies. 
*'The room in which the objects are placed, has been recently 
erected by Mr. M. for the purpose, and is well lighted from above ; 
the larger specimens are arranged in glass cases, and the smaller 
ones in drawers below. It has already been stated that the collec- 
tion of Chalk Fossils is the finest in the kingdom ; it will not be ne- 
cessary to particularize them, but it may be observed that the stone 
in which the most delicate animal remains are imbedded, has been 
partly removed with a degree of science and care, that I have noti- 
ced in no other museum, and they are displayed to the greatest ad- 
vantage. The beautiful fossil fishes allied to the Zeus or Doree, 
from the chalk near Lewes, are particularly interesting ; one. of 
them is an unrivalled specimen, the mouth being open and entire.— 
But the most remarkable circumstance in some of Mr. M.’s speci- 
mens, is the uncompressed and perfect form of the bodies, which was 
doubtless chiefly owing to the preservation of the air-bladder, for it 
appears unbroken in many of the specimens. This is an important 
fact, as it proves that the bodies were completely incased in the 
chalk before the putrefactive process had commenced. In some of 
the fossil fishes, the fins, gills and teeth, are preserved, as well as the 
air bladder and tongue ; the scales are also very distinct. Vegetable 
remains in chalk are extremely rare; there are, however, in this 
tollection fine specimens of wood in chalk, and in the centre of flints, 
