1867.] Louis Figuier. 173 



the numerous genera of Trilobites, the bony-plated fishes of the 

 Old Ked Sandstone, and other curious forms, are exclusively con- 

 fined to this period. The Eugoso corals, with one exception, are 

 likewise Palaeozoic. Whilst the predominance of Brachiopoda 

 among the Mollusca and of Crinoids among the Annuloida, gives 

 a very marked character to the life of the period. Cryptogamic 

 plants of strange forms and unusual size are most abundantly met 

 with ; and the microscopic structure of coal indicates that Gymno- 

 spermous Exogens were at this time plentiful. 



In treating of the Secondary Epoch, M. Figuier adopts that 

 arrangement which divides it into three systems or periods, viz. 

 Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous, with the Penarth or Khsetic 

 sub-period, intervening between the Triassic and Jurassic systems, 

 of which a concise and interesting account is given ; and for this 

 description the reader is probably indebted to the talented trans- 

 lator, Mr. Bristow. 



The numerous remains of gigantic Saurians found in the rocks 

 of the Secondary Epoch have led geologists to name it the Age of 

 Bejjtiles ; but the recent discovery of several genera of this class, 

 in the coal measures of Kilkenny, in addition to remains and 

 traces of reptiles previously found in Primary rocks, tends very 

 much to do away with this term, and to deprive the Secondary 

 Epoch of that almost peculiar feature which seemed to belong 

 exclusively to it. The immense number of species of the general 

 Ammonites and Belemnites seems now to be the only positive 

 peculiar feature in the known life of this epoch. The absence of 

 Mammaha higher than the Marsupial type rests, so far, upon 

 negative evidence, and every advance in geological discovery proves 

 the fallacy of reasoning on the non-existence of the higher forms of 

 that or any other class from such data. 



M. Figuier describes the lithological character of the rocks of 

 each successive formation of this epoch. He enumerates the chief 

 species of animals and plants, gives much information relative to 

 the extent, condition, and development of these Secondary rocks, 

 and describes minutely the structure and habits of such enormous 

 reptiles as the Ichthyosaurus, Megalosaurus, Plesiosaurus, and 

 Iguanodon, as well as the strange Bamphorhynchus and Ptero- 

 dactylus. The non-scientific reader cannot fail to have his curiosity 

 awakened to the study of geology by reading of an animal (the 

 Ichthyosaurus) having "the snout of a porpoise, the head of a 

 lizard, the jaws and teeth of a crocodile, the vertebras of a fish, the 

 sternum of the Omithorhynchus, the paddles of a whale, and the 

 trunk and tail of a quadruped."* Conflicts amongst enormous 

 Iguanodons and Megalosauri, and angry meetings between strange 

 looking Ichthyosauri and Plesiosauri, depicted with startling 

 vividness by the artist, who presents us with vigorous and life- 



* P. 197. 



