Miscellanies. 1 73 



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 pbysiological 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 Lewesj 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, hmvever, in ih'is 

 Collection fine specimens of wood in chalk, and in the centre of flints', 



