266 
MEGALOSAURUS 
fibula ; and a metatarsal bone ; but, as M. Cuvier 
remarks, since these bones were found promis- 
cuously intermingled with those of crocodiles and 
other oviparous reptiles, it is simply from their 
being discovered in the same stratum, and from 
their zoological characters, that we conclude they 
belong to the same kind of animal ; a conclusion, 
which, as we shall hereafter have occasion to re- 
mark when treating of the iguanodon, must not 
always be regarded as unequivocal. 
Teeth. (Fig. 1. p.26l.) — The teeth of the megalo- 
saurusare compressed laterally, and slightly recurved 
backwards ; their edges are finely serrated, the an- 
terior edge being much thicker than the posterior, 
which is very sharp and thin. They bear a great 
analogy to the teeth of several species of the recent 
monitors ; and the structure of the jaw of the me- 
galosaurus indicates also a strong affinity to the 
animals of that genus. * In the jaw found at Stones- 
field, the teeth are lodged in distinct alveoli, and 
do not adhere, as in the monitors, to the substance 
of the jaw, by any incorporation of the root or 
sides. In this respect they agree with the croco- 
dile, but the outer edge of the jaw rises almost an 
inch above the inner margin, forming, as it were, a 
continuous lateral parapet to support the teeth 
externally, after the manner of the monitors. A 
series of triangular plates of bone arises from the 
inner edge, and constitutes a zig-zag buttress in- 
ternally ; and from the centre of each plate, a 
bony septum passes across to the outer parapet, by 
* Vide Oss. Foss., tonic v. pi. xvi. p. 27G. 
