FOSSIL REPTILES. 301 



to speak, and which, though not crocodiles, as was at first 

 supposed, were animals whose genus invariably frequents 

 marshes and the banks of rivers. Thus, again, we find pro- 

 ductions of the fresh water covered by immense marine pro- 

 ductions of the most ancient date ; an added proof, if any more 

 were wanting, that the sea has repeatedly covered and again 

 left dry the continents of our part of the globe, during an 

 astounding series of innumerable ages. 



From the remains in question, and their representations, 

 sufficient ground has been afforded to determine the genera, 

 and to characterize, to a certain point, even the species which 

 they exhibit. 



Four specimens, found in these strata and engraved in 

 difierent works, not necessary to mention here, enabled the 

 Baron to determine that they had belonged to animals of the 

 same species, judging from the resemblance of size and con- 

 formation in all the common parts, particularly the spine, the 

 tail, and part of the limbs. They may be all employed to 

 reconstruct a complete individual, by attaching to the common 

 trunk the isolated parts in each specimen. In one are the 

 head, the fore- feet, and almost the entire of the tail. The 

 latter is also found in another, with one hind and two com- 

 plete fore extremities, and a good part of the trunk. The 

 ribs, almost the entire tail, the two hinder extremities very 

 complete, and many parts of the fore ones, were engraved in 

 a treatise of the celebrated Count Swedenborg ; and in the 

 last specimen from which an engraving was taken, is an im- 

 pression of a portion of the pelvis. These different parts are 

 more than sufficient to throw light upon the nature of the 

 animal. 



The form of its head, its teeth all sharp, the size of the 

 vertebrae of the tail, sufficiently prove that it was an oviparous 

 quadruped, without the assistance of the hinder limbs, which 

 confirm it still more. 



The head is not without some resemblance to that of a 



