48 STRATA OF TILGATE FOREST. 



21. The existence of a third species is presumed, from a plate, to 

 which a portion of the rib is still attached. Mr. Clift of the Koyal College 

 of Surgeons, who did me the favor to compare it with the recent turtles 

 in the Museum of the College, remarks that " this fossil resembles the third 

 rib from the neck, of a species aUied to the hawk's-bill turtle," (testudo im- 

 hricata) which inhabits the American, and Asiatic oceans. The rib is longi- 

 tudinally striated, and precisely similar to the specimen from Melsbroeck, 

 fig. E. Planche V. of Burtin *. 



Of the bones of the testudines, I have obtained the following, and 

 probably several others, which at present I am unable to distinguish from 

 those of other animals. 



22. Part of the Omoplate or scapula. Cuvier, Tome IV. PL 2. 5. b. 

 23 clavicle. Cuvier, Tome IV. PL 2. 5. d. 



My excellent friend Mr. Lyell, informs me, that the remains of several 

 species of testudo have been discovered at Stonesfield ; and that some of 

 the plates which he saw, resembled the first species above enumerated . 

 the circumstance is mentioned here, to point out the remarkable cor- 

 respondence that exists in the contents of these deposits. 



FOSSIL LACERTJE. 



The teeth, vertebrae, bones, and other remains of an animal of the 

 lizard tribe, of enormous magnitude, are perhaps the most interesting 

 fossils that have been discovered in the county of Sussex. 



The teeth and scales, like those of the fishes, are generally well pre- 

 served, but the bones have sustained considerable injury from fracture 

 and attrition, which renders the determination of their osteological cha- 

 racters exceedingly difficult. Of the numerous specimens in my collection, 

 not one is perfect ; by far the greater part consisting of fragments rounded 

 by the action of water, and deprived of those anatomical distinctions so 

 essentially necessary to the elucidation of the form of the original. They 

 are heavy, brittle, of a deep brown colour, and strongly impregnated with 



* OryctograpJiie de Bruxelles, ou Description des Fossiles tant naturels qu accidentels decouverts 

 jusqiCa ce Jour dans les Envirojis de cette Ville, par M. Francois Xavier Burtin. Folio, 1784. 



