100 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Jan. 7, 



of the world's physical history, which is defined by the deposition of 

 the strata, termed by geologists the Old Red, or Devonian formation. 



Description of the Telerpeton Elginense, a Fossil Reptile 

 recently discovered in the Old Red Sandstone o/Moray; with 

 Observations on supposed Fossil Ova o/Batrachians in the 

 Lower Devonian Strata of Forfarshire. By Gideon 

 Algernon Mantell, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S., G.S., Honorary 

 Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, President of 

 the West London Medical Society, &c. 



The highly interesting fossils from the Devonian rocks of Morayshire, 

 which Mr. Patrick DufP of Elgin has with great courtesy allowed my 

 friend Captain Brickenden to transmit to me, with a request that I 

 would examine and describe them, and lay the results before the Geo- 

 logical Society of London, consist of the remains and impressions of 

 nearly the entire skeleton of a lacertian reptile, A\ inches in length, 

 in a block of crystalline sandstone broken into three pieces. 



On the largest fragment, PI. IV. 9, the spinal column with the 

 ribs, from near the occiput to the sacrum, is distinctly shown ; the 

 pelvis is but obscurely indicated ; the caudal vertebrae with their 

 apophyses, comprising apparently two-thirds of the entire tail, are 

 manifest. There are no traces of the bones of the pectoral arch, nor 

 of those of the feet. Of the left anterior extremity, impressions of 

 the distal half of the humerus, and of the proximal portions of the radius 

 and ulna are the only vestiges ; the right arm is indicated solely by a 

 hollow left by the humerus. The forms of the bones of the hinder 

 limbs are demonstrated by the deep imprints of the femora and tibiae, 

 and less distinct traces of the fibulae. 



The piece of sandstone, PI. IV. 8, that has been broken from the 

 upper part of the block, PI. IV. 9, nearly parallel with the plane of 

 the spine, displays the corresponding impressions of the vertebral 

 column and ribs, pelvis, bones of the hinder limbs, and tail. 



The third portion of stone, PL IV. 4 *, 4, has been detached from 

 the anterior part of PL IV. 9 ; it contains the cranium in a very muti- 

 lated state, and in a great measure concealed by the investing matrix. 

 The removal of the surrounding sandstone would probably disclose 

 characters that might assist in determining the natural affinities of 

 the original animal, but as this unique and most important relic was 

 entrusted to me for description only, I have not ventured to attempt 

 its more complete development ; in fact, the extreme fragility of the 

 specimen would render such an operation very hazardous. 



With the exception of the imbedded skull, scarcely any vestige of 

 the osseous substance remains ; impressions, more or less distinct, of 

 the spinal column, pelvis, and extremities, and replacements or casts 

 of a considerable number of the vertebrae by the investing rock are the 

 only indications of the form and structure of the Devonian reptile 

 which the researches of Mr. Duff have brought to light. 



In the largest block (PL IV. 9) the dorsal aspect, or upper part, 

 of the skeleton is exposed. The vertebral column and ribs are almost 

 in a normal position ; the cranium is somewhat displaced, and lies on 



