1870.] Geology and Palaeontology. 273 



the occurrence of fossils in erratic blocks from Western Australia, 

 from the centre of the Continent, on Stuart's route, and from 

 Queensland. These remains, although fragmentary, suffice to in- 

 dicate fossils of Liassic, Oolitic, and Neocomian age. 



The propriety, however, of applying the European palseonto- 

 logical standard to the geology of the Antipodes is exceedingly 

 doubtful, and we are more than ever impressed with the value of 

 the late Edward Forbes's observation, that the occurrence of similar 

 fossils in formations of widely-separated continents was rather a 

 proof of the diversity of their age than of their synchronous cha- 

 racter. That marine faunas extend over a far wider geographical 

 area than land animals must be admitted, but Mr. Seeley's obser- 

 vation, that natural groups of corresponding value exist in different 

 areas of the globe, deserves consideration. 



Professor Huxley contributes three papers, all bearing upon the 

 Dinosauria and their affinity with Birds. 



The skeleton of a young Iguanodon from the Wealden of the 

 Isle of Wight (described long since by Professor Owen) proves, 

 upon further examination, to be a new genus of Herbivorous Dino- 

 saur (Hypsilophodon Foxii), and assists largely to increase the 

 evidence in favour of the affinity between Dinosaurian Eeptiles and 

 Birds. A head of Hypsilojphodon (obtained by the Bev. W. Fox), 

 and referred to the same species, seems to have had its prsemaxilla- 

 ries produced downwards and forwards into a short edentulous beak- 

 like process, the outer surface of which is rugose and pitted. The 

 peculiar form of the lower jaw of Iguanodon would seem to indicate 

 that its emargination was destined to receive this beak-like process 

 of the praemaxillaries. The pelvic bones are singularly avian in 

 their structure. 



Professor Huxley reviews in his second paper the evidence 

 already cited by himself and others (especially by Professor E. I). 

 Cope, of Philadelphia), in favour of the ornithic affinities presented 

 by the Dinosauria, and discusses at length the recently ascertained 

 facts which bear upon this question. He compared the different 

 elements of the pelvic arch and hind limbs in the Crocodile, the 

 Dinosaur, and the Emu, and maintained that the structure of the 

 pelvic bones (especially the form and position of the ischium and 

 pubis), the relation between the distal end of the tibia and the 

 astragalus (which is perfectly ornithic), and the strong enemial 

 crest of the tibia, &c, furnish additional and important evidence 

 of the affinities between the Dinosauria and Birds. 



In Professor Huxley's third paper he referred to the biblio- 

 graphy of the Dinosauria, which, as a distinct group, were first 

 recognized by Hermann von Meyer in 1830. He then indicated 

 the families, into which he proposed to divide the group, viz. : — 



1. The Megalosauridse, with the genera Teratosaurus, Palseo- 



