X 
PREFATORY NOTICE. 
lower portion of the Shanklin sand ? If the first and cer¬ 
tainly the most direct conclusion be accepted, there must be 
some break of continuity, or some discordancy of position 
among the sand-beds which escaped the notice of the early 
observers. Should no such break of continuity be established, 
some might still perhaps hold to Dr Fitton’s classification. 
This Preface may convey some notion of the extent of 
our collection of reptilian remains : but no idea can be con¬ 
veyed, by these introductory pages, of the great scientific 
labour bestowed upon the specimens by the author of the 
Catalogue. Those only can comprehend the labour and the 
value of the conclusions derived from it, who have previously 
studied the details of a very difficult department of Palaeon¬ 
tology ; and are thereby enabled at once to grasp the evidence 
on which the several conclusions are founded. With honest 
expressions of gratulation and good will to the members of 
the University, and with grateful thanks to the Vice-Chan¬ 
cellor, and the Syndics of the Press, and to the gentlemen 
who form the Syndicate for the study of Natural Sciences, 
I here bring my remarks to a close.* 
A. SEDGWICK. 
Norwich, Aug. 20, 1869. 
* The commencement of our great series of Ornithosaurian Remains was 
made by the Rev. H. Gr. Day, late Fellow of St John’s College. He carefully 
watched the early “ coprolite diggings and washing works,” near Cambridge; 
and made a good collection of the organic spoils brought to light by them. 
Before he left the University he generously transferred his collection to the 
Woodwardian Museum. In a subsequent note it will, I trust, be my grateful 
task to give a fuller list of those who have been benefactors to this department 
of our Museum than I am now capable of doing while absent from the 
University, and without any books of reference. 
