Paleontological Discovery. 347 
valuable results in regard to fossil mammals. Geoffroy St. 
Hilaire’s researches on fossil Reptiles, published in 1831, were 
an important advance. De Serres and De Christol’s explora- 
tions in the caverns in the South of France, published between 
memoirs are well known. 
e brilliant discoveries of Cuvier in the Paris Basin, 
excited great interest in England, and when it was found that 
the same Tertiary strata existed in the south of England, care- 
ful search was made for vertebrate fossils. mains of some 
of the same genera described by Cuvier were soon discovered, 
and other extinct animals new to science were found in 
various ‘parts of the kingdom. Kénig, to whom we owe the 
name pe ea and Conybeare, who gave the generic 
designation Plesiosaurus, and also Mosasaurus, were among 
es. 
pried in which they lived soon became known as the “age of 
ptiles.” The subsequent researches of these authors added 
largely to the existing knowledge of various extinct forms, 
~ their writings did much to arouse public interest in the 
subject. 2 
ichard Owen, a pupil of Cuvier, followed, and brought to 
bear upon the subject an extensive knowledge . 
y, he has been, 
since Cuvier, the chief historian. e fossil reptiles of 
* “ Traité élémentaire de paléontologie,” etc., Genéve. 4 vols. 1844-46. Second 
Edition. Paris, 1853-55. 
