444 



sonings on countries visited by himself, and to interpret the hand- 

 writing which Nature has left upon the walls of her geological monu- 

 ments, in such a manner as not only to expound her ancient records, 

 but to connect them with the history of our present races. 



Although this volume is devoted chiefly to the description of the 

 younger formations, as more intimately connected with the main 

 object of the author, the secondary and primary rocks are reviewed 

 so far as was necessary to show their connexion with his theory, 

 and to indicate how well their structure can be accounted for by 

 causes, which he supposes to be still in full and undiminished opera- 

 tion. The powerful effects produced upon the public mind by the 

 first and second volumes of this work will, I may venture to say, be 

 highly augmented by a perusal of this concluding part; and even 

 those geologists who may differ from the author on a few theoretical 

 points, will gladly eulogize the efforts of one who has so greatly ad- 

 vanced their knowledge. 



Fossil Zoology. — The Session has been fertile in communications 

 upon fossil zoology. The splendid specimens of Megatherium, &c. 

 brought to this country by Mr. Woodbine Parish have, in the hands 

 of Mr. Clift, afforded us much curious instruction. The tribute which 

 these remains enabled Mr. Clift to pay to his great master in compa- 

 rative anatomy, has already been adverted to ; but we must not forget 

 that they also elicited brilliant lectures from Dr. Buckland,both within 

 these walls, and on the occasion of the late scientific festival at Oxford. 



The Rev. Mr. Stanley has given a lively description of the caves 

 of Cefn, in Flintshire, one of which, like that of Kirkdale, is supposed 

 to have been the inhabited den of hyaenas ; whilst another and larger 

 cavern, situated at a lower level on the side of the same mountain, 

 contained only the remains of recent animals. From the distinct 

 nature of the upper and lower layers of alluvia collected within the 

 inhabited cave, and arranged above and below the floor of fossil bones, 

 the author speculates on layers as evidences of different periods of 

 aqueous debacle. 



Mr. Mantell, whose energies seem to expand in each succeeding 

 year, notwithstanding the limited field to which his researches are 

 necessarily confined, has presented us with an account of an unde- 

 scribed and singular species of Saurian, to which he assigns the name 

 of Hylceo-saurus. This fortunate exhumation has, I am happy to say, 

 encouraged the enterprising ranger of Tilgate Forest to make it the 

 nucleus of a new and comprehensive work, in which he will not only 

 describe all the vertebrated animals in his rich domain, the Wealds of 

 Sussex, but will embrace in it a geological description of his own, 

 and of the adjoining counties. 



The bright example of Mr. Mantell is meeting with worthy imitators 

 in other parts of England, in the persons of other zealous young 

 members of the same profession, among whom may be mentioned 

 Mr. Chaning Pearce of Bradford, and Mr. T. Hawkins of Glaston- 

 bury; — the first of whom has collected and arranged a vast number of 

 new species of the organic remains in his neighbourhood ; the latter, 



