408 



PLAGIAULAX. 



VII. DESCRIPTION" OF TWO SPECIES OF THE 

 FOSSIL MAMMALIAN GENUS PLAGIAULAX 

 FROM PUEBECK. 1 



Until very lately, the only fossil mammifer known to science 

 from the Upper Oolite beds (Purbeck series) was the Spala- 

 cotherium tricuspidens of Professor Owen, a small insectivorous 

 form referred by him, with some reserve, to the placental 

 series. 2 It was discovered by Mr. W. E. Brodie in one of 

 the so-called 'Dirt-beds' of Durdlestone Bay, Purbeck. That 

 meritorious collector continued his researches during the 

 years 1855-56, and had the good fortune to discover some 

 other mammalian remains, which were transmitted to London 

 about the end of last December for description by Professor 

 Owen. They were all found in what is called the ' Dirt- bed' 

 No. 93, of Austen's ' Guide.' Before these remains had 

 reached London, Mr. Samuel II. Beckles, so favourably 

 known from his researches in Sussex and the Isle of Wight, 

 after free communication with Sir Charles Lyell about the 

 importance of a close and sustained search for mammalian 

 remains at Purbeck, proceeded to Swanage for the express 

 purpose of carrying it out. Before a fortnight had elapsed, 

 Mr. Beckles, by a series of well-directed excavations, had 

 discovered several mammalian jaws besides numerous rej)- 

 tilian remains, in the ' Dirt-bed ' No. 93. When the first 

 line of section ceased to be productive, or could no longer be 

 worked, he opened new ground, under difficulties which 

 would have damped the ardour of a less earnest inquirer. 

 The labours of Mr. Beckles have been crowned with the 

 success which they deserved. He has discovered a large 

 number of mammal remains, many of which are new, and in 

 very fine preservation. The united acquisitions of Messrs. 

 Brodie and Beckles have already attained the important 

 figure of about thirty mammalian jaws, more or less com- 

 plete, the majority of them lower, but two, at least, upper 



1 This paper was communicated to 

 the Geological Society of London on 

 March 11, 1857, and is reprinted from 

 the ' Quarterly Journal ' of the Society 

 for August, 1857. The illustrations 



have been reproduced on stone (Plates 

 xxxiii. and xxxiv.) from the original 

 woodcuts. — [Ed.] 



2 Quarterly Journal of the Geological 

 Society, vol. x. pp. 431 and 432, 1854. 



