426 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [June 7, 



GoNioPHOLis CRASsiDENS, Owen ; Brit. Assoc. Report, 1841, p. 69. 



In some of the blocks of Purbeck stone transmitted by both Mr. 

 "Willcox and Mr. Brodie are imbedded portions of jaws, teeth, and 

 other parts of the Swanage Crocodile (Goniopholis crassidens) . 



I shall not, however, dwell on the remains of this well-known 

 reptile of the Purbecks, but proceed at once to the description of the 

 most novel and interesting fossils of the present collection, which 

 have been obtained exclusively by Mr. Brodie. 



Class MAMMALIA. 



At first sight the specimens appeared, as their discoverer had sup- 

 posed, to differ only in species from the similarly-sized jaws of the 

 Lizards with which they were associated ; and it was only after a 

 careful removal of the matrix that concealed their most characteristic 

 features, that I became satisfied of their relationship to the Mammalian 

 class. 



SpALACOTHERIUM * TRICUSPIDENS, OwCU. 



The first of the specimens indicative of the little insectivorous 

 mammal, for which the above name is proposed, is a left ramus of 

 the lower jaw, indicated by nearly the whole of the posterior half, 

 and by the impression of nearly the anterior half of the bone : it is 

 represented, of the natural size in outline, and magnified in tint, at 

 fig. 9. The posterior half contains four teeth, which at first sight 



Fig. 9. — lieft ramus of the lower jaw, with teeth, of the Spalaco- 

 THERiuM TRICUSPIDENS, Oweu. (Nat. sizc, and magnified.) 



-^ifrfcs 



a, h. Proximal extremity of jaw. c. Oblique view of a molar tooth. 



a. Crown of the same, seen fro:ii above. 



appeared to have simple long slender pointed conical crowns, with a 

 basal ridge. The portion of jaw containing them extended back- 

 wards beyond the dental series ; and, instead of showing the com- 



* From (T7rdX«^, a mole, & 9t]piov, a beast. 



