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XXXI. (I.) On the Bicynodont Beptilia, with a Description of some Fossil Bemains 
brought hy H.K.H. Peince Alfeed from South Africa, November 1860. By Pro- 
fessor Owen, F.B.S. &c. 
Beceived January 23, — Bead Bebruary 20, 1862. 
On the return of His Eoyal Highness Peince Alfeed from the Cape of Good Hope, in 
1860, he honoured me by transmitting some fossil remains, with the following Note: — 
“ Deae Peofessoe Owen, 
“ In the course of my journey in South Africa I met with two very interesting 
Fossil Eemains ; one, the larger, being the head of a Bicynodon : and I hope you will 
accept them from me as being the best specimens I obtained, upon the Peince Consoet’s 
suggestion, on the occasion of your last Lecture, of which I retain the most agreeable 
recollection. 
“ Yours truly, 
“ Windsor Castle, November 15tb.” AlfEED. 
I feel it a duty, at the present season of grief at a National bereavement, which 
becomes daily more appreciated, to communicate to the Society this evidence of the 
lamented Peince Consoet’s unfailing interest in our sciences, as manifested by his 
desire that Lectures on Natural History should be delivered before the Eoyal offspring; 
and also as showing that, amidst the manifold occupations of the Peince Consoet, he 
allowed no opportunity to escape in which his influence could be, in any way, exerted 
to aid in the direct advancement of science. 
In the present instance, this influence, through the zealous fulfilment by Peince 
Alfeed of his father’s suggestion, has procured for us valuable additional evidence of 
the peculiar structure and characters of some rare extinct animals, which, under any 
circumstances, I should have felt bound to submit to the Eoyal Society. 
Some delay has been occasioned by the necessity of removing the very hard matrix 
from the varied and intricate surfaces of the imbedded petrified bones, — a labour 
requiring to be performed under my immediate supervision, or by my own hands. 
The smaller of the two fossils referred to by H.E.H. Peince Alfeed, has thus proved 
to be one of the most perfect specimens of the petrified skull of a dicynodont Eeptile 
which, hitherto, has come under my observation. It is figured, of the natural size, in 
Plates XIX. & XX. figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. 
3 Q 2 
