O. C. Marsh on the Remains 



tie results of the analysis wer 



ofanev^Enaliosaurian. 



.as follows: 



Organic matter, and combined water? . 





2-39 





. in-91 





































1-10 





r T^vr'tPQ 3 Tnn^^' ' ' 







1-07 



Fluorine 







. 1-20 



Chlorine, , 







* !!!!!!' 





Carbonic " . . 









Silicic " 







5-04 



Sulphuric " 







. . trace. 



The matrix of the fossils was an argillaceous shale, colored 

 with peroxyd of iron ; and without doubt many of the constitu- 

 ents of the remains were derived directly from this source by 

 infiltration, the silicic acid, alumina, peroxyd of iron, and alka- 

 lies, resulting from the decomposition of clay. 



The small amount of manganese in the substance was found 

 to exist as protoxyd, and was probably combined with a part of 

 the silicic acid. Protoxyd of iron also was present, but its sepa- 

 ration from the higher oxyd, being in this case unimportant, 

 was not attempted : the estimated quantity of the peroxyd given 

 above is, consequently, somewhat greater than the true amount. 

 The protoxyd of iron, as well as part of the lime, probably ex- 

 isted in the fossils as carbonate. The phosphoric acid was un- 

 doubtedly combined with the iron and lime. 



The fluorine in these vertebrae was in smaller quantity than 

 has generally been found in fossil bones, and differs widely from 

 the amount obtained by Baumert, who found 16-67 per cent of 

 fluorid of calcium in the remains of the Zeuglodon.^ The results 

 of the present analysis tend to confirm the opinion of Middleton 

 and others that the presence of fluorine in fossil bones is acci- 

 dental ; and that the large amount of this substance occasionally 

 found is due to infiltration ; and is not, as some writers have 

 affirmed, an original ( 



The organic matter in these remains may have been partially 

 derived by infiltration from the fossil plants contained in the 

 surrounding matrix of shale : a careful examination, however, 



» Liebig and Kopp, Jabresbericht far 1861, p. 594. 



