= 
‘ =<" 
408 Notice of Dr. Mantell’s Petrifactions and their Teachings. 
Australia‘and Van Diemens Land and of the island of Portland, 
are also conspicuous in the museum. Many of the fossil vegeta- 
bles are’illustrated in Dr. Mantell’s work by fine drawings. 
‘he impressions of feet in stone are next described, especially 
the Chirotheria, now attributed to an enormons frog or Batra- 
-chian, thongh Dr. Mantell does not regard this conclusion as 
being fully sustained by the osseous remains hitherto discovered. 
The ornithichnites (footsteps of birds) are well represented in 
the British Museum by specimens transmitted by Dr. Deane and 
President Hitchcock, and the interesting conclusion that birds, 
aud among them those of gigantic size, existed so early as the 
era of the new red sandstone appears to be plainly shown, 
although still awaiting the discovery in the same strata of bones 
in check. The dimensions of the largest of the Moa family justify 
the conclusions that have been entertained regarding the size o 
the still earlier birds of the valley of the Connecticut, Two spe- 
cies of Apteryx, supposed cotemporaries of the Moa, still survive 
in New Zealand, and the Notornis, another cotemporary, a very 
beantiful bird, has come down to our time, the last survivor hav- 
ing been but recently killed. 
e department of the Radiata, including the Stelleridae—star 
fishes,—and_ the Crinoidea—Encrinites, Peutacrinites, &c., 38 
richly represented in the British Museum. 
he remains of the Saurian or Lacertine family are immense 
and astounding, Here is the vast collection formed by Dr. Man- 
tell and that alsa by Mr. Hawkins of Gloucester, in addition to 
many. more specimens from various. places. The colossal forms 
of the Ignanodon, of. the Pelorosaurns, of the Hylaosaurus, of 
