81 
in the Alum-Shale near Whitby. 
specimen. Of the species with large teeth set close together, 
( Ichth . platyadon. of Conybeare), there is one specimen in the 
Whitby Museum, and another was found a few years ago. 
Whether the very large vertebrae found here, some of which 
measure above six inches in diameter, belong to the same spe- 
cies or not, remains to be ascertained. I may add, that we have 
some imperfect specimens that may probably be assigned to the 
Ichth. tenuirostris of Conybeare. 
It is pleasing to observe the progress that has lately been 
made in illustrating the nature of the fossil Saurian animals of 
Britain. But while much has been ascertained in this depart- 
ment of science, much remains to be elucidated ; and, as not a 
few eminent naturalists are now bending their investigations in 
that direction, we may hope that fresh discoveries will soon re- 
ward their industry, and that new light will be thrown on a sub- 
ject that so well deserves to be explored. Should Whitby have 
the good fortune to become the seat of any such discoveries, the 
members of its Literary and Philosophical Society will count it 
an honour to make such acquisitions to science the common pro- 
perty of the literary world. 
Art. VIII. — A short Narrative of Facts relative to the Inven- 
tion and Practice of Steam-Navigation by the late Patrick' 
Miller , Esq. of Dalswinton. Drawn up by his Eldest Son 
Patrick Miller, Esq. 
The vast importance into which the practice of navigation 
by Steam has suddenly grown up within the few last years, 
and the prodigious influence which it seems destined in its fu- 
ture progress to possess over the intercourse of mankind in 
every quarter of the globe, have naturally attracted the public 
curiosity to the discovery and ascertainment of those earlier at- 
tempts of ingenious or patriotic individuals, which have led the 
way to such unexpected, and, in truth, such marvellous results. 
Upon this, as upon all similar inquiries connected with the his- 
tory of inventions, some degree of obscurity and uncertainty 
has been found to prevail, which has, as usual, given birth to 
various false and unwarrantable pretensions ; and, while some 
VOL. XIII. NO, 25 . JULY 1825 . 
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