6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [ISToV. 7. 



The occurrence of Dinosaurian remains in the Stormberg rocks is, 

 unfortunately, by no means decisive as to their geological relations. 

 The Dinosaurian Plateosaurus has been discovered by Yon Meyer in 

 the Trias ; and the affinities of the Thecodonts with the Dinosauria 

 are so close that no one could be surprised at the occurrence of 

 the latter reptiles in rocks of Permian age ; while, on the other 

 hand, they are continued through the Mesozoic formations to the 

 Chalk. 



In the letter from which a passage has already been cited, Mr. 

 Brown not only expresses the belief that he will be able to procure 

 a full suite of remains of Eiislcelesmirus ; but this energetic investi- 

 gator of South African geology promises shortly to forward another 

 highly interesting fossil, the account of which I subjoin in his own 

 words : — 



^' On the 24th of May last, being a holiday, I went into the 

 country, as is my custom, and found, at a considerable distance from 

 Aliwal, in an alluvial deposit forming the bed of an ancient valley, 

 imbedded in situ, an animal which, from proofs in my possession, I 

 believe to be a representative animal, or at least the type of a genus, 

 which inhabited a large extent of country. 



" When I send this animal I will transmit a series of fragments 

 of teeth (belonging to this type) gathered from many parts of the 

 district, and accompany them with a paper, with an outline sketch 

 of the localities by the aid of a camera lucida. 



" I have made already five visits to the spot. The following are 

 the particulars : — 



" a. The bones are completely mineralized, and very dense. 

 "6. There are about nine ribs as yet, with their vertebral ends in 



good preservation. 

 " c. Cranium (of which there are many pieces) very elongated. 



Saurian type ? 

 " d. Lower jaws, very short and remarkably thick ; no traces of 



teeth. Mammalian type ? 

 " e. One large tooth in the upper jaw lying horizontally in the centre 

 of the intermaxillary bone, and taking a curve after protru- 

 ding from the muzzle. It is in such a peculiar position that 

 I have seen nothing in nature or engravings resembling it. 

 "/. Twelve vertebrae, with their tubercles and processes complete. 

 " g. Several large bones, which I cannot define at present. 

 "h. One large bone belonging to the pelvis, possessing saurian 

 characters." 

 Mr. Brown further remarks that the head must have been nearly 

 as large as that of an ox, with lower jaws no longer than those of an 

 average-sized dog. 



It is useless to speculate when the means of arriving at certain 

 knowledge are so near at hand ; but the description is certainly more 

 suggestive of a Dicynodont reptile than of anything else. 



