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VIII. Notice on the Iguanodon, a newly discovered fossil reptile, from the sandstone of Tilgate, in Sussex. By Gideon Mantell, F. L. S. and M. G. S. Fellow of the College of Surgeons, &c. In a letter to Davies Gilbert, Esq. M. P. V. P. R. S. &c. &c. &c. Communicated by D. Gilbert, Esq

1825; Royal Society; Volume: 115; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1098/rstl.1825.0010

2053-9223

Gideon Algernon Mantell,

Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology

Sir, I avail myself of your obliging offer to lay before the Royal Society, a notice of the discovery of the teeth and bones of a fossil herbivorous reptile, in the sandstone of Tilgate forest; in the hope that, imperfect as are the materials at present collected, they will be found to possess sufficient interest to excite further and more successful investigation, that may supply the deficiencies which exist in our knowledge of the osteology of this extraordinary animal. The sandstone of Tilgate forest is a portion of that exten­sive series of arenaceous strata, which constitutes the iron-sand formation, and in Sussex forms a chain of hills that stretches through the county in a W. N. W. direction, extending from Hastings to Horsham. In various parts of its course, but more particularly in the country around Tilgate and St. Leo­nard's forests, the sandstone contains the remains of saurian animals, turtles, birds, fishes, shells, and vegetables. Of the former, three if not four species belonging to as many ge­nera are known to occur, viz. the crocodile, megalosaurus, plesiosaurus, and the iguanodon, the animal whose teeth form the subject of this communication. The existence of a gigantic species of crocodile in the waters which deposited the sandstone, is satisfactorily proved by the occurrence of numerous conical striated teeth, and of bones possessing the osteological characters peculiar to the animals of that genus; of the megalosaurus, by the presence of teeth and bones re­sembling those discovered by Professor Buckland in the Stonesfield slate; and of the plesiosaurus, by the vertebrae and teeth analogous to those of that animal.