332 0. C. Marsh—History and Methods of : 
Salamander, and the two vertebre to be those of an 
Ichthyosaurus ! 
Another famous book appeared in Germany in the same year 
in which Scheuchzer’s first volume was published. The author 
was John Bartholomew Adam Beringer, professor at the Uni- 
versity of Wiirtzburg, and his great work* indirectly had an 
important influence upon the investigation of fossil remains 
The history of the work is instructive, if only as an indication 
of the state of knowledge at that date. Professor Beringer, in 
accordance with views of his time, had taught his pupils that 
fossil remains, or “ figured stones,” as they were called, were 
mere “sports of nature.” Some of his fun-loving students 
reasoned among themselves, “If Nature can make 
stones in sport, why cannot we?’ Accordingly, from the soft 
limestone in the neighboring hills, they eet 4 out eat of 
i ocalities 
was published, the deception practiced upon the credulous 
Professor became known; and, in place of the glory he ex 
pected from his great undertaking, he received only ridicule 
aD 
chase 
destroy the volumes already issued, and succeeded so far that 
se SY Bey of the first edition remain. His small fortune, 
whic 
work, was exhausted in the effort to regain what was already 
‘Assued, as the price rapidly advanced in proportion as few e 
Copies remained; and, mortified at the failure of his life’s 
Lin poverty. It is said that some of his family, 
issatisfied with the misfortune brought upon them by this 
and the loss of their atrimony, used a remaining Copy 
for the production of a secon edition, which met with a large 
sale, sufficient to repair the previous loss, and restore the 
family fortune. This work of seringer, in the end, exerted 
_ excellent influence upon the dawning science of fossil 
ns. Observers i — 
pposed discoveries, and careful study of natural objects 
— replaced vague hypotheses. eee 
* Lithographia Wirceburgensis, ducentis lapi: , @ potions, ins 
alia ina ec Wines ae.” wait IL. Beane 
ee ee ne eee ee #3 ™ 
