$96 



New Patents, 



cessively by the duties of his function to tlie most opposite parts 

 of Europe, took advantage of his leisure moments to examine 

 the fossils, and as he has paid particular attention to land and 

 fresh water shells, he attached himself from choice to that sort 

 of soil discovered in the neighbourhood of Paris by MM. 

 Brogniart and Cuvier, v/hich containing only fresh water shells, 

 appeared to these naturalists not to owe ita origin to the sea, as 

 is the case with most other secondary formations, 



M. de Ferussac has observed similar beds containing the same 

 shells and composed of the same substances, in the south of 

 France, in several provinces of Spain, in Germany, and as far 

 as tlie bottom of Silesia; so that there can hardly be a doubt that 

 these formations are general. 



M. de Ferussac, to give more precision to his observations, 

 has examined the shells themselvesj has determined their speyies 

 with great accuracy, and has given good observations on the 

 variations which they may experience, and several happy ideas 

 respecting the character which may serve to distinguish the 

 genera. 



M. Cuvier has just published, in four volumes in 4to. with 

 numerous plates, a collection of all his memoirs on the fossil 

 bones of quadrupeds. He has described 'JS species^ 49 of which 

 were certainly unknown to naturalists, and 16 or 18 are still 

 doubtful. Tl\e other bones found in these recent beds appear 

 to belong to animals known. In a preliminary dissertation, the 

 author explains the method which he followed, and the results 

 which he obtained. It appears to him, from facts which he has 

 established, that the earth has undergone several great and sudden 

 revolutions, the last of which, not more remote than 5 or 6j000 

 years, destroyed the country at that time inhabited by the species 

 of animals existing, and offered for a habitation to the feeble 

 remains of these species continents which had been already 

 inhabited by other beings, which . a preceding revolution had 

 buried, and which appeared in their actual state at the time of 

 this last revolution. 



(To be continued,) 



Article XI. 

 New Patents, 



Richard Green, of Lisle-street, Leicester-square, in the 

 county of Middlesex, sadler's ironmonger ; for a stirrup vt^ith a 

 spring in the eye, and a spring bottom for the safety of persons 

 riding on horseback, and to prevent their being dragged in the 

 stirrup. Dated March 3> 1813. 



