Miscellanies. 393 
“Tt was from these scattered elements that the skeletons of these 
gigantic reptiles of the Weald were constructed, with which we seem 
now so well acquainted—those huge saurians, some individuals of 
which this room could scarcely contain, concerning whose osteolo- 
gical structure and former habits, we can now reason with confidence, 
and which obtain as real an existence in our imaginations as if they 
were living this moment in the waters of the Ganges or the Nile. 
Mr. Greenough has pointed out to you how strikingly some discoveries 
lately made of an assemblage of the bones of the Izuanodon grouped 
together im one mass of rock, have shewn the sagacity with which 
Mr. Mantell had put together the disconnected remains which were 
first discovered. All the bones thus met with in one block were such 
as he had previously considered as belonging to the Iguanodon with 
no intermixture of those which he had rejected as probably referable 
to other saurians. And here I may notice when speaking of the 
Iguanodon, that there is a peculiar propriety in your awarding the 
Wollaston medal to the discoverer of the genus, since I well remem- 
ber the evening at the Geological Society, when Dr. Wollaston hav- 
ing seen the first tooth exhibited by Dr. Mantell in London, warmly 
encouraged him to pursue his researches, and that too, when, as 
Dr. M. thought, others were less struck, and less interested with the 
subject. But gentlemen, I must: trespass no longer on your indul- 
gence, and will only remark, that if the exertions of my friend 
would have called for our grateful acknowledgments under any cir- 
cumstances, how much more so are they entitled to our praise and 
admiration when we recollect the peculiar difficulties under which 
he has followed up his scientific investigations. His hours of study 
have been confined to those moments which could be spared from 
the labors of a profession to which he has devoted the principal en- 
ergies of his mind, and I rejoice to say with great and uniform suc- 
cess. ‘Lhere have always been some men in the medical profession 
who have combined extensive practice at the same time that they 
have enlarged the boundaries of some collateral science, and it gives 
me great pleasure to declare that Dr. Mantell’s name will be added 
to that honorable list, and that after but a years residence at Brigh- 
ton, his rapidly increasing practice proves that his triumphant suc- 
cess is certain. His health is now the only subject of our anxiety, 
and that I trust will be soon restored: Gentlemen, I have again to 
propose the health of Dr. Mantell, the Wollaston medallist. (Loud 
and continued cheering.)”’ 
Vou. XXVUI—No. 2. 50 
ae 
