152 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
afforded by the modification of the organs of progressive motion. It may^ 
therefore, be inferred, that those orders in the present received systems of Mam¬ 
malogy which are founded on characters afforded by the teeth alone, are less 
natural, and less important groups, than those which are based on modifications 
of the locomotive extremities; and a fortiori^ on those which combine such 
distinctive characters with equally characteristic peculiarities of dentition. At 
present there is no evidence to determine what was the nature of the extremities 
of the Toxodon, but Mr. Owen is of opinion, that although it cannot be positively 
affirmed the genus may not be referable to the Muticata of Linn^us, yet, from 
the development of the nasal cavity, and the frontal sinus, that it is extremely 
improbable the habits of the species were so strictly aquatic as the entire absence 
of hinder extremities would occasion. 
“ In conclusion, he pointed out the interesting fact, that the recent animal 
most analogous to the Toxodon, combining the characters of a Pachyderm and a 
Rodent, and, from its aquatic habits, called the Water-hog, or Hydrochcerus^ 
exists only in South America—the same region in which this gigantic fossil, 
possessing similar aberrant peculiarities, has been discovered."’— Athenceum. 
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF ATHENS. 
A Society of Natural History appears to have been recently established at 
Athens. It was addressed, at its first meeting, by M. Nicolaides Levadiefs, 
a medical officer under the Greek government. After pointing out the advantages 
to be derived from Agriculture, of which the Greeks are now comparatively 
ignorant, although Sicily was in ancient times the granary of Rome, and after 
adverting to Holland and England, as proofs of what skill and industry might 
achieve even with an ungrateful soil, and under comparatively rude climates, M. 
Levadiefs proceeded as follows:—“ The Greeks formerly worked silver mines in 
Attica and in some of the islands in the Archipelago; but gold came to them 
through Macedonia and Thrace, from Pannonia and Illyria. Hence the gold coins 
of ancient Greece are so few, while those of the Macedonian kings are still numer¬ 
ous. The marble quarries of Pentelicus and Paros are too well known to need 
being mentioned. Chromium has been found in Euboea; Milos is rich in silver, 
vitriol, and alum; Siphnas possesses silver ores; Naxos maintains a trade in 
emery; Santorin is rich in steatite, [or soap-stone, which is much sought for, 
chiefly to make the luting of water-pipes. I shall not say any thing of our 
numerous mineral springs, the waters of which are so serviceable to suffering 
humanity. Unfortunately, mines cannot be expected to repay the cost of work¬ 
ing them, unless where coals are at hand and in abundance. It shall therefore be 
the business of the Society of Natural History to prosecute the much-desired 
examination, as to the nature and quality of the stone-coal discovered at Negro^ 
