430 Dr. BucKLAND on the discovery of Bones 



To trace the extent of this ancient estuary, as far as it is indicated by the 

 deposits that were formed within its area, and to ascertain from what more 

 elevated regions of dry land so much detritus has been derived, are objects 

 deserving- the careful attention of geologists. 



The best indications of the source from, whence the materials of the strata 

 have been supplied, would be afforded by pebbles, if any could be found, inter- 

 mixed with the finer ingredients of this formation. The general absence of 

 such pebbles shows that the lands were distant, from whence the fine particles 

 of sand and clay were transported, that gradually filled up this estuary : and 

 the interposition of the broad belt of the oolitic and new red sandstone forma- 

 tions, between its northern frontier, and the north, and north-western moun- 

 tain ranges of our own island, would incline us rather to look for these lands 

 either in Devonshire and Cornwall on the west; or in the nearest primary 

 and transition mountains of the Continent, viz., in Normandy and Brittany 

 on the south-west ; or in the forest of Ardennes on the south-east. It is not 

 probable that the materials of the Wealdcn formation have been derived in 

 any great degree from the detritus of the oolitic series, because in such case 

 we should have found among them an admixture of pebbles of oolite; none of 

 which have yet been noticed. 



APPENDIX. May, 1835. 



The following notices on the habits of modern Iguanas show that some of 

 them, like our Iguanodon, are herbivorous, and that others are omnivorous. 



I am informed by my friend William John Broderip, Esq., that in the spring 

 of 1829, he saw a living Iguana, about two feet long, in a hothouse at 

 Mr. Miller's nursery gardens near Bristol. It had refused to eat insects and 

 other kinds of animal food presented to it, until happening to be near some 

 kidney-bean plants, that were placed in the house for forcing, it began to eat 

 of their leaves, and was from that time forth supplied with these plants. When 

 Mr. Broderip saw this animal, it was in good health, and of a beautiful green 

 colour ; it suffered itself to be handled, and swallowed some of the leaves in 

 his presence. 



I learn further from Mr. Broderip, that in July 1834 a living Iguana tuher- 

 culata (Seba, 1. 95. 1.— 97. 3.-98. 1. C), in the gardens of the Zoological 

 Society of London, being placed in an inclosure containing a pond, deli- 

 berately took to the water, swimming across with the greatest facility, using 

 its tail as the organ of progression, with its fore feet motionless. Cuvier 

 (tom. ii. p. 44.) says of this animal: ''II vit en grande partie sur les arbres. 



