chap. xi. Bahia Blanca. 327 



tlie dermal case, when it was embedded. Besides these 

 several remains in a distinguishable condition, there 

 were very many single bones : the greater number were 

 embedded in a space 200 yards square. The prepon- 

 derance of the Edental quadrupeds is remarkable ; as 

 is, in contrast with the beds of Monte Hermoso, the 

 absence of Rodents. Most of the bones are now in a 

 soft and friable condition, and, like the shells, do not 

 emit when burnt an animal odour. The decayed state 

 of the bones may be partly owing to their late exposure 

 to the air and tidal waves. Barnacles, Serpulae and 

 corallines are attached to many of the bones, but I 

 neglected to observe l whether these might not have 

 grown on them since being exposed to the present tidal 

 action ; but I believe that some of the barnacles must 

 have grown on the Scelidotherium, soon after being 

 deposited, and before being wholly covered up by the 

 gravel. Besides the remains in the condition here 

 described, I found one single fragment of bone very 

 much rolled, and as black as jet, so as perfectly to re- 

 semble some of the remains from Monte Hermoso. 



Very many of the bones had been broken, abraded, 

 and rolled, before being embedded. Others, even some 

 of those included in the coarsest parts of the now hard 

 conglomerate, still retain all their minutest promi- 

 nences perfectly preserved ; so that I conclude that 

 they probably were protected by skin, flesh, or ligaments, 

 whilst being covered up. In the case of the Scelido- 

 therium, it is quite certain that the whole skeleton 

 was held together by its ligaments, when deposited in 

 the gravel in which I found it. Some cervical vertebrae 

 and a humerus of corresponding size lay so close to- 



1 After having packed up my specimens at Bahia Blanca, this 

 point occurred to me, and I noted it ; but forgot it on my return, 

 until the remains had been cleaned and oiled : my attention was 

 afterwards recalled to the subject by some remarks by M. d'Orbigny. 



