64 
EXTINCT MONSTERS 
contains a magnificent series of Ichthyosauri, about thirty in 
number. Of these a large number were obtained through the 
exertions of the late Mr. T. Hawkins, a Somersetshire gentleman, 
who was a most ardent collector of fossil reptiles, and who devoted 
himself with great enthusiasm and unsparing energy to the acquisi- 
tion of a truly splendid collection of these most interesting relics 
of the past. Xearly seventy years ago he arranged for the pur- 
chase of his treasures by the authorities of the British Museum, 
and thus his collection became the property of the nation. 
His specimens were figured and described by him in two large 
folio volumes. The first was published in 1834, under the title, 
Fig. 8 . — Ichthyosaurus intermedius. ", 
Memoirs of the Ichthyosauri and Plesiosauri ; his second, with the i 
same plates, in 1842, under the quaint title of The Booh of the j 
Great Sea-Dragons. The large lithographic drawings of his fine I 
specimens were beautifully executed by Scharf and OXeil. The,| 
plates are the only really valuable part of these two curious and j 
ill- written books. \ 
Mr. Hawkins tells us that his youthful attention was directed , 
to the Lias quarries, near Edgarly, in Somersetshire, in consequence j 
of some strange reports. It was said that the bones of giants and 
infants had, at distant intervals, been found in them. These 
quarries he visited, and, by offers of generous payment, induced I 
