[ 688 ] 
may yet prove in the oeconomy of human life. The 
man, therefore, whom a genius and love for natural 
hiftory has allured into its purfuits, and whole leifure 
permits his gratification in fuch refearches, if he is 
not happy enough to be crowned with fuccefs, at 
leaf: deferves it, and merits the thanks of his fellow- 
creatures for his application and diligence. 
XCII. An Account of the fojfile Bones of an 
Allegator , found on the Sea-fore, ?jear 
Whitby in Yorkfhire. In a Better to 
John Fothergill, M. D. fro??t Capt. Wil- 
liam Chapman. 
Whitby, 20th of ift mo. 1758. 
Read May. 4, A F ew days fi nce we difcovered on 
TV the fea-fhore, about half a mile 
from this place, part of the bones of an animal, ap- 
pearing as in the annexed figure (See Tab. XXII.). 
The ground they laid in is what we call allum-rock; 
a kind of black flate, that may be taken up in flakes, 
and is continually wearing away by the furf of the 
fea, and the washing of Hones, fand, &c. over it 
every tide. 
The bones were covered five or fix feet with the 
water every full fea, and were about nine or ten 
yards from the cliff, which is nearly perpendicular, 
and about fixty yards high, and is continually wear- 
ing away, by the walhing of the fea againft it ; and, 
if I may judge by what has happened in my own 
memory, 
