653 
from the “ Lower Greensand,” he concludes, from the same uner- 
ring evidence in the form and texture of the bones and teeth, 
that they are quite distinct from any Saurian hitherto described ; 
and he therefore refers them to his new marine genus Polypty- 
chodon. Whilst I delight in seeing that the tenants of those ancient 
oceans have met with so competent an expositor, I cannot but re- 
gret that my place should net at this moment be occupied by our 
own Conybeare; for the founder of the genus Plesiosaurus would 
have taught you to admire a multitude of comparisons and osteo- 
logical adjustments contained in the results of Mr. Owen’s researches. 
Though unequal to enter into a discussion of his merits, I can, how- 
ever, in common with all my brother geologists, express to him my 
deep sense of gratitude for the successful efforts he has made to 
point out to us new links in the scale of nature’s works. 
On the subject of Saurian remains our knowledge has also been 
increased during the past year by Dr. Mantell, in a memoir commu- 
nicated to the Royal Society, on the lower jaw of the Iguanodon, 
and on the remains of the Hyleosaurus and other Saurians disco- 
vered in the strata of Tilgate Forest. Not pretending to have ade- 
quate acquaintance with the subject treated of by Dr. Mantell, lam 
glad that our old and valued associate is once more before the pub- 
lic with one of those original researches with which, during the last 
twenty-five years, he has so much enriched our science, and which 
have obtained for his name so high a place in the volumes of the 
great Cuvier, as to render any eulogium on my part superfluous. 
Valuing as I do the arduous labours of a man, who, like Dr. Mantell, 
has occupied the few leisure hours at his disposal, first in discover- 
ing, next in dissecting from their stony bed, and lastly in describing 
the specimens; I am bound to observe that such merits deserve, as 
they have obtained, the highest praise which working geologists, like 
ourselves, can offer. In thus estimating, however, the value of Dr. 
Mantell’s researches, I must be permitted to say (and in the most 
friendly spirit), that whilst I understand the propriety of the motive 
which led him to communicate his last memoir on the Iguanodon 
to the same Society to which he had addressed his first account of 
that Saurian, I regret that he should not have communicated to our- 
selves other paleeontological memoirs, the consideration of which, I 
must say, pertains particularly to the Society over which I preside. 
So long as the Royal Society produces volumes adorned by the 
writings of the first mathematicians, physiologists, and chemists of 
the age, so long will it maintain its high place, little heeding our 
humbler pursuits. 
Two memoirs have been read before us to illustrate the celebrated 
‘¢ bone-bed,” which, lying at the base of the lias, and in contact with 
the uppermost members of the new red system, has hitherto been 
classed with the former deposit. The first of these, communicated 
by Sir Philip Egerton, is entitled “On the occurrence of Triassic 
Fishes in British Strata ;” the second is ‘‘ On the occurrence of the 
Bristol Bone-bed in the Lower Lias, near Tewkesbury,” by Mr. H. 
Strickland.. The fact to which Sir Philip Egerton adverts is, that out 
