taxonID	type	description	language	source
4D3087DEFFD59B11FFC1FD87FCD5FB65.taxon	description	Description. A longitudinal section through an elongate, thin tooth-like organ, about 12 mm long and 3 mm wide at its base. The section shows two different tissue types, a and b. Tissue a: all the periphery is formed by a homogeneous tissue of constant thickness, birefringent under crossed nicols. This tissue is itself divided in three regions. a 1: the most external one is characterized by very numerous thin dark canaliculi perpendicular to the free surface. a 2: the middle one is almost devoid of canaliculi and shows a faint organisation of the tissue as very thin “ sheets ” layered parallel to the free surface. a 3: the inner one, with a complement of canaliculi similar to a 1 but far less numerous. This lesser density allows observing some branching patterns of the canaliculi, several branches uniting from the periphery towards the center. Tissue b: the internal part of the organ is made of a cone which almost reaches the surface at the tip of the tooth. This cone is formed by a highly birefringent vascularized tissue. Numerous vascular canals of small diameter are lining the limit between tissues a and b. Large and small vascular canals with irregular branching patterns are spread deeper within tissue b. Actually, there is no structural discontinuity at the limit between tissues a and b, but only a change in the orientation of canaliculi and tissue fibers, plus vascularity restricted to tissue b. The canaliculi are numerous in tissue b, but highly irregular, forming locally a very dense meshwork. They are far less numerous or almost lacking in the material immediately surrounding the vascular canals. There is nothing like a pulp cavity in the structure. Comments. This thin section is very interesting from an historical-technological point of view. It is still technically excellent. The glass plate is not standard but very small (54 × 17 mm). There is no cover slip and the section itself is only protected by a blue paper glued on both faces of the glass plate, with a circular opening around the section itself. This paper also bears the original label in English. Very likely the section was processed in Great Britain sometimes during the early development of the thin section technique. Histologically, we interpret “ tissue a ” as a kind of orthodentine, forming the so-called “ manteldentin ” at the periphery of a tooth. “ Tissue b ” would be a so-called “ circumpulpar dentin ”, actually a vasodentin, with centripetal deposition of dentin around vascular canals, the denteons of Ørvig (e. g., 1967), analogous to the primary osteons of bone. There is no evidence of any enameloid. “ AMPHIBIANS ” Temnospondylii 4. “ Archegosaurus latirostris de Lebach 1870 - 480 ”. Pencil number: 1073, ink label: Anat. Comp. 1875. According to the species name “ latirostris ” (unvalid) and the locality, “ Archegosaurus latirostris de Lebach, could be a juvenile Archegosaurus decheni (Steyer pers. comm.). Description. Two partial cross sections of simple labyrinthodont teeth, still partially embeded in the matrix. The pulp cavity is free, with about 12 short radial expansions of dentine protruding in it. Each inward expansion roughly coincides with a slight groove at the external surface of tooth. Tooth material is monorefringent under crossed nicols. There is no distinct coating of enamel. A thin region of globular dentin forms the tooth material at a small distance from its external surface. Inside, the tooth is formed of orthodentin with very long, thin, strait canaliculi within and between the radial expansions. Overall, the material agrees well with Schultze’s (1969) illustrations of Lyrocephaliscus Wiman, 1910 (Schultze 1969: pl. 21 fig. 3, pl. 22 fig. 2), a Trematosaur. 5. “ Archegosaurus latirostris de Lebach 1870 - 480 ”. Pencil number: 1073, ink label: Anat. Comp. 1875 (Fig. 1 D). Description. One isolated tooth free of matrix. This cross section may come from a region somehow closer to the tooth tip. It shows about 20 radial expansions into the free pulp cavity. Long expansions tend to alternate with short ones, and the long ones slightly undulate. Again, no enamel could be deciphered. However the section slightly shows the radial expansions of the external dentine forming the core of the radial fences. 6. (N- 1) – “ Archegosaure de Lebach, crâne ”. No numbers, no pencil indication. Description. About 10 osseous fragments are scattered under the coverslip. In most fragments the bone tissue is sectioned longitudinally. Osteocyte lacunae, more or less plump or elongate in shape, are set in line with the parallel fibered bone tissue. Some vascular canals, forming primary and secondary osteons are also sectioned longitudinally. In two fragments, the structure is more complex, with several vascular canals parallel to each others or faintly converging in a fan-shaped arrangement. Sharpey’s fibers are numerous after a faint annulus. This structure is suggestive of the bone not far away from a tooth insertion. 7. “ Labyrinthodon – Wurtemberg. Os crânien ”. Pencil number: 1074, ink label: 1938 - 613. Anat. Comp. 1875 (Fig. 1 E). Description. A few square millimetres probably from a horizontal (oblique) section in the external cortex of a dermal bone. The light brown bony material is mostly birefringent under crossed nicols, especially in regions around vascular canals (primary osteons). No secondary osteons (Haversian systems) are observed. Osteocytic lacunae are difficult to observe. Noticeable locally are Sharpey’s fibers and superposition of undulating dark lines strongly suggesting annuli or LAGs (= lines of arrested growth), as well known among Stegocephalians (e. g., Ricqlès 1995 b). 8. “ Labyrinthodon du Wurtemberg. Écaille? céphalique. ” Pencil number: 1078, ink label: Anat. Comp. 1938 - no. 613. Description. Probably a horizontal section in the external cortex of a dermal bone, broken in several small fragments, and further damaged by balsam shrinkage. Bone is strongly birefringent under crossed nicols, apparently demonstrating two orthogonal superimposed plies of bony lamellae. 9. “ Labyrinthodon de Stuttgart. Écaille? temporale ”. Pencil number: 1077, ink label: 1938 - 613. Charles Marchand, Préparateur à Paris. (Fig. 1 F) Description. A good section from the free surface of a bone (with matrix) to about 3 mm deep in the cortex. No superficial ornamentation is obvious. The bone is generally birefringent under crossed nicols with a clear lamellar organisation. It contains about 16 superimposed rows of vascular canals of small diameter, sectioned longitudinally and circularly, and organized as primary osteons laid down in a “ lamellar-zonal ” matrix of periosteal origin. However, neither Sharpey’s fibers, nor cyclical annuli could be observed. Secondary osteons seem to be lacking. 10. “ Trimerorachis insignis. Permien du Texas ”. Pencil number: 1900. Ink label: Anat. Comp. 1878. Mr Cope. Description. A poorly preserved bone fragment, probably sectioned vertically. What might have been the external, ornamented surface appears to have been mostly replaced by fan shaped, radiating black mineral structures which could be superficially mistaken for Sharpey’s fiber bundles. Actually, very little of the external bone is preserved. Most of the specimen is formed by thin, remodelled endosteal bone trabeculae forming a highly cancellous tissue. In many places, osteocytic lacunae appear to have experienced localized widening, probably the result of post mortem destruction. Indeed, evidence of boring canals of mycelial origin can be observed locally. Comments. Occurrence of Trimerorachis in the collection and the presence of Professor Edward D. Cope’s name on the section label demonstrate the relationships among French and American paleontologists of the era. 11. “ Prototriton de Gaudry. Permien d’Autun ”. Pencil number: 1075, ink label: 1938 - 613. Description. A section containing several “ Prototriton ” (sic) bones still in their relative positions in the matrix. What can be observed suggests a complete small skeleton sectioned frontally, e. g., parallel to the bed plate in which it lies dorso-ventrally. Unfortunately the technical quality of the section is poor. It nevertheless allows deciphering occurrence of several bones and teeth. At least eight teeth can be observed in situ on teeth-bearing bones. The teeth are non labyrinthodont in structure, with a very thin dentin surrounding a relatively large pulp cavity. They appear to be pedicellate as among most Lissamphibians and a region of intensive remodelling, where a tooth base ankyloses on the dentigerous bone is visible. On the other hand neither enamel or enameloid, nor bicuspidate structure could be observed. Various parts of the skeleton, including dermal bones, and short and long endoskeletal bones, are sectioned more or less at random. Bone tissue shows little details but appears to have been poorly vascularized. Some long bones sectioned longitudinally may show sequence of endochondral ossification in the calcified cartilage of metaphyses. However the poor quality of the section and randomness of orientations preclude detailed observations. Comments. The cover slip of this section is not round (as on most sections in the collection) but rectangular, as in modern thin sections. The endoskeletal bone structures preserved in this specimen may be compared to those of post metamorphic Urodeles (Ricqlès 1965). 12. “ Prototriton de Gaudry. Permien d’Autun ”. No numbers. Description. A large thin section, obviously from the same material as above (11). Preservation is very poor (see Comments). The section is rather thick but allows deciphering a longitudinal section in a limb with the stylo-zeugopodials in articulation (no autopodial is preserved). Comments. This section has a large oval-shaped coverslip. This has largely separated from the glass plate over time and gently curled. The balsam is badly cracked and the section will have to be intensively cured for further preservation and observation. 13. (N- 2) – Plathyosaurus (?) Ink label: “ fossil bone Plathyosaurus ” (in English). No number. Description. A small (4 × 4 mm) fragment of cancellous bone. This spongy bone tissue is formed by rather coarse irregular trabeculae, leaving between them irregularly elongate spaces. The bone tissue has a great cellular density and shows extensive erosion / reconstruction cycles, as well as osteon-like structures within the thick trabeculae. Some aspects within the trabeculae are suggestive of globuli ossei. If so this tissue would originate in part from previous endochondral ossification. Comments. Another thin section of English origin, exactly similar to section 14 (N- 3) (see below). It is not possible to decipher the exact label name; both “ Plathyosaurus ” and “ Plathioposaurus ” can be read. The former name does not appear to match any genus name coined to a fossil Amphibian or Reptile during the 19 th century. The later name appears close to Platyposaurus, which would be a synonym given by Lydekker, 1890 to Platyops Twelvetrees, 1880, a Permian “ Rachitome ” (Lehman 1955). “ REPTILES ” Ichthyosauria 14. (N- 3) – Ichthyosaurus. Ink label “ fossil bone Ichthyosaurus ” (in English). No number. Description. A bone tissue fragment of 5 × 5 mm. This is a microcancellous bone tissue spatially organized along a very regular “ honeycomb ” pattern. The thickness of the section prevents from observing details of the tissue itself. Comments. One of several sections probably pertaining to Paul Gervais’ collection but of English origin. The section is set on a standard (7.6 × 2.5 cm) glass plate with a round cover slip. The glass is entirely covered (and protected) by a red paper below, a red and gold paper above; with the label “ C. M. TOP- PING ” appearing twice into circles on top. 15. “ Ichthyosaurus communis d’Angleterre, côte. ” Pencil number: 983, ink label: 1938 no. 619. Description. A good cross section of a small bone. The section is irregularly oval, about 5 mm in its largest diameter, and with one flat, slightly concave face. The cortex merges very gently with the more cancellous central region, as usual among aquatic tetrapods (Ricqlès & Buffrénil 2001). The outer cortex is primary in structure, containing longitudinally oriented primary osteons embedded in a woven tissue, radially oriented in the thickest par of the cortex. In the thiner (more slowly growing) regions, the cortex shows less vascularity, no radial orientation and some evidence of cyclical deposition. The medullar region is rather dense, small marrow cavities being set apart by thick, irregular secondary trabeculae of endosteal bone tissue. No remnants of cartilage are observed. Comment. The thick convoluted trabeculae in the medullary region agree with the (non pathological) “ osteosclerotic ” condition often observed among aquatic tetrapods (Ricqlès & Buffrénil 2001). 16. “ Ichthyosaure du Spitzberg, vertèbre ”. Pencil number: 965, ink label: 1938 - 619. Description. Only cancellous bone tissue can be observed in cross section. This is a “ mature ” bone tissue with evidence of erosion / reconstruction cycles forming areolar secondary endosteal trabeculae. Some structures agree with the large endosteal secondary osteons lining the marrow sinuses often observed at the periphery of the medullar region in many large tetrapods. Comments. Pollution by grinding powder hinders detailled observations. The structures are rather similar to the ones observed in an adult Plesiosaur phalanx (see Ricqlès & Buffrénil 2001: pl. 4, fig. F.). 17. “ Ichthyosaure du Spitzberg, vertèbre ”. Pencil number: 985, ink label: 1938 - 619. Description. A large portion of cancellous bone retaining its microanatomical organisation, possibly suggesting longitudinal orientation of bone trabeculae along the section, in a vertebral centrum. Otherwise the section is too thick to show histological details. 18. “ Ichthyosaure du Spitzberg, côte ”. Pencil number: 984, ink label: 1938 - 619. Description. A partial cross section of a bone of at least 10 mm in diameter. A central free marrow cavity (diameter 4 mm) contains a few bone trabeculae. The remains of the cortex is 5 mm thick and entirely formed by a very cancellous tissue, somewhat organized radially and longitudinally. No histological details can be deciphered because of bone opacity. 19. (N- 4) – “ Ichthyosaur 16 25 fofsil ” (sic) (ink label on blue paper). Museum, Anatomie comparée (printed label on white paper) with pencil number: 1065 (Fig. 2 A). Description. A partial cross section from a large tooth (partial diameter 14 mm), close to its base. The tooth has a complex, “ folded ” structure, showing 9 - 10 partly preserved folds of dentine circling a large pulp cavity entirely filled by finely cancellous bony tissue. Each individual fold is a U-shaped mass of orthodentine of about one millimetre thick, the top of the U opens towards a small pulp cavity. The orthodentine has typical dentinal tubules, oriented from the periphery to the pulp cavity along radial curves, crossed by several (6 to 8) “ growth lines ” parallel to the external surface of the folds. Close to the surface, a thin coating of very dark dentine appears to be globular and is capped by a very thin sheet of a strongly birefringent hard tissue with a slightly irregular surface. Between the folds a distinct bone-like tissue contains cell spaces and vascular canals, apparently in structural continuity with the highly birefringent thin sheet mentioned above. This osseous tissue (topologically located outside the dentine) is in continuity with the finely trabecular bone filling the pulp cavity. The dentine folds are isolated from each others at the level of this cross section. Comments. This section is of a rather good quality. It is mounted on a tiny glass plate, with original label on blue paper, as section no. 3 “ Lamna ” fossil (see above) but better prepared. There is no coverslip and the section is thus technically very similar to section no. 3 and may have the same British origin. The tissue between the dentine folds may be interpreted either as a cellular cementum (as suggested by its specialized fibre systems) or as bone of attachment, nevertheless it merges with the regular bone inside the pulp cavity. There is no clear indication of enamel. These structures agree with later descriptions of ichthyosaurian teeth by Schultze (1969: 111 - 115, text fig. 18 and pl. XVI figs 1, 2) and Schmidt & Kiel (1971).	en	Ricqlès, Armand de, Taquet, Philippe, Buffrenil, Vivian de (2009): “ Rediscovery ” of Paul Gervais’ paleohistological collection. Geodiversitas 31 (4): 943-971, DOI: 10.5252/g2009n4a943
4D3087DEFFD99B15FF34FB5DFBABFA09.taxon	description	Description. Bone tissue is observed on a 20 × 5 mm surface. This section is of fairly good technical quality and allows detailed observations. The preserved free surface of the bone is flat and formed by a very thin cortex which likely experienced subperiosteal resorption. This cortex has the same histological structure as the inner trabeculae which merge with it locally. Inside the bone, the tissue is cancellous, formed of very irregular trabeculae. These trabeculae are of endochondral origin, as evidenced by the presence in their core of many island of calcified cartilage, with their clusters of large chondrocytes lacunae. The globular mineralisation of the cartilage matrix is also conspicuous, as well as globuli ossei localized at the interface between bone and cartilage (cf. Buffrénil et al. 1990). Comments. The resorbing trabeculae forming the cortex retain an endochondral component. This structure is comparable to the surface of long bone metaphyseal regions which have to reduce their outer diameter (modeling) during the growth in length of the bones, so that the overall morphology of the bones can be maintained while metaphyseal regions are sequentially relocated (Enlow 1963). 21. (N- 5) – Pliosaur. Ink label: “ Plesiosaur Plesiosaur (the two words striked of) maxill. inf. Pliosaur ”. Anat. Comp. 1878. Pencil label: 987. Description. A cross section of a rather compact bone fragment (jaw), about 17 mm long and 6 mm maximal width, in part contained in matrix. The preservation is fair, although the balsam has badly shrunk and cracked below the cover plate. The subperiosteal bone tissue shows incorporation of new vascular canals, Sharpey’s fibers and “ growth cycles ”. The osseous tissue shows evidence of post mortem degradation, suggesting that the bone was stranded on shore before ultimate fossilization. The inner bone is extensively converted into Haversian systems and contains large “ marrow ” sinuses, one tooth socket and some tooth material. However it has entirely experienced diagenesis and no dental tissue structure remains. Comments. A striking artifact is provoked locally by the schrinken balsam, that displays appearance of a globular tooth with an “ onion sheets ” structure under low magnification. 22. (N- 6) – Pliosaurus. Ink label: “ Pliosaurus grandis du Havre, mach. Inf-re. ” Anat. comp. (no date, no number). Description. A longitudinal (oblique) section in fairly dense bone, about 10 × 7 mm. The tissue has numerous elongate periosteocytic lacunae. It contains numerous vascular canals, roughly parallel to each others, with some evidence of secondary reconstruction around them. A more cancellous region with some irregularly shaped sinuses carved into dense secondary tissues corresponds to the endosteal margin. Comments. Superficial (sub periosteal) bone layers do not seem to be preserved in the section. DINOSAURIA 23. (N- 7) – Iguanodon. Ink label: “ Fossil bone Iguanodon ”. No pencil number. No date, with the label “ – C. M. TOPPING – ” appearing twice in circles on red and gold paper covering the top of the glass slide (Fig. 1 A). Description. A 8 × 8 mm cross section in coarse cancellous bone. The section is rather thick but the bone structure can be deciphered. The bone trabeculae are irregular and thick, with small marrow spaces between them. The bone tissue is secondary and remodeled. It appears mostly endosteal in origin. Comments. One of the early thin sections of British origin in P. Gervais’ collection, and one of three with the same, careful technical setting under red and gold paper. The material should come from an Iguanodon Mantell, 1825 fragment from England antedating the Bernissart discovery; it is so impossible that this specimen comes from the Belgium material. However, the origin of this specimen is not precisely known (England, Isle of White?). 24. “ Iguanodon fémur ”. Ink label: 1938 no. 620, MNHN 1875 (figured in Taquet 2001). Description. A cross section probably in the external cortex from the shaft of a long bone. Bone tissue is entirely primary in structure. The section is polluted by abrasive grains but the structures can nevertheless be observed. The bone tissue with a dense, homogeneous and regular vascularisation organized as primary osteons, is typically laminar to sub-plexiform. The bone surface, as preserved, shows no evidence of an external fundamental system or a decrease in appositional rate. However it might not represent the natural subperiosteal surface of the bone. No lines of arrested growth, or Haversian substitution are clearly visible. Comments. The structure suggests an immature, actively growing individual. 25. (N- 8) – Iguanodon. Ink label: “ Iguanodon femur ”. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. 1876. No numbers. (Fig. 2 C). Description. An excellent thin section in compact bone, about 10 × 9 mm, plus some additional fragments. The main part of the section is a cross section through a massive cortical bone entirely formed by primary (periosteal) bone tissue of laminar to sub-plexiform types. Only a few vascular canals have experienced Haversian reconstruction. Five small additional fragments under the same cover slip figure the same tissue, but cut tangentially, parallel to the bone surface. They show three complex (and difficult to interpret) interwoven components: 1) the fibrous component of periosteal origin; 2) the lamellar component of the primary osteons (endosteal component); and 3) the vascular component locally appearing as a reticulum (e. g., Ricqlès 1972: figs 6, 7). Comments. The structure, similar to section 24 (see above), should originate from the same material. It also suggests a fast, massive, almost continuous new bone apposition in a presumably juvenile to half grown individual. This thin section, again, raises the issue of the origin of the material. It looks to have been processed in Paris, along most others from Gervais’ collection, possibly by E. Bourgogne or C. March- and (although no label suggests this). If so, and if the material indeed belongs to Iguanodon, it should have come from a fragment sent from England. An alternative is that the material comes from Southern France (see below) and was labelled Iguanodon by comparison with other sections, published or not. 26. (N- 9) – Rhabdodon. Ink label: “ Rhabdodon, vertèbre de Villeveyrac ” Mus. Nat Hist. Nat., Anat. Comp. 1876. (Fig. 2 D). Description. Two small irregular fragments under a square coverslip. The bone tissue is mostly cancellous, and only one small region seems to agree with a bone cortex of primary (periosteal) origin. This cortex is densely vascularized by up to five rows of primary osteons organized into a vaguely laminar pattern. The spongiosa starts abruptly in the deep cortex, which is dissected by large marrow cavities. The endosteal trabeculae are very remodelled. The whole bone experienced extensive post mortem erosion by boring organisms. Comments. Taquet (2001), dealing with early discoveries of Dinosaurs from Southern France, notably by the geologist Philippe Matheron, commented the likely occurrence of Rhabdodon Matheron, 1869 at Villeveyrac (Herault) (Taquet 2001: 620), as well as Matheron’s relationships with Paul Gervais (cf. Gervais 1877 in Taquet 2001) about those dinosaurian remains. This thin section confirms their relationships. 27. (N- 10) – Dinosaur indet. Ink label: “ Reptile de la Nerthe (Matheron) marne (?) inf. Eugène Bourgogne, préparateur à Paris ”. No date, no pencil number (Fig. 1 A). Description. A thin section of triangular shape, about 10 × 6 mm. Most of the section is formed by a dark matrix, containing bony fragments. The tissue, sectioned longitudinally or obliquely, is highly birefringent under crossed nicols. It is an intensively reconstructed bone tissue that may be Haversian or secondary endosteal. Comments. From La Nerthe tunnel, Matheron described fragments of both “ Hypselosaurus ”, a Sauropod, and Rhabdodon, an Ornithopod (cf. Taquet 2001: 614 - 615). The secondary nature of the tissue would agree with a Dinosaurian origin. The section likely comes from the material given by Matheron to P. Gervais in 1876 which thus would have contained not only eggshells fragments (Taquet 2001: 616) but also bone fragments. 28. (N- 11) – Dinosaur indet. Ink label: “ Dinosaurien? Vertèbre du Garumnien de Esperaza par Mr. Leymerie. Museum d’Hist. Nat. Anat. Comp. 1876 ” (Fig. 1 B). Description. A small bone fragment, about 7 × 5 mm in longitudinal section. The tissue is highly birefringent throughout. A small region may correspond to the deep primary cortex, with a few Sharpey’s fibers and rather abundant anastomosing vascular canals sectioned longitudinally. However, most of the section is secondary endosteal and would form the external part of a rather dense spongiosa. Comment. Again, this section does not bear much “ diagnostic ” characters but the structure could generally agree with a dinosaurian origin. Taquet (2001: 620) quotes the letter dated July 1877 of Mr. Leymerie to Paul Gervais discussing the bone fragments from Fa and Esperaza (Aude) from which this section comes. MAMMALIA “ Edentates ”, Xenarthra Glyptodontoidea 29. Glyptodon “ cubitus ”. Pencil number: 48, ink label: 1938 - 612. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A bone cross section, semi-circular in shape of 23 mm diameter. Although tissue preservation is poor overall, it allows precise microanatomical and histological analysis, at least locally. Contrast between what are usually a central cancellous region opposed to a dense cortex is low here. The cortex is locally highly cancelous via large radial, circular and longitudinal canals. Conversely the inner bone tissue is rather dense, with thick bony trabeculae and relatively small marrow spaces. A part of the cortex is primary, with a plexiform vascular network. Large vascular canals with incipient osteonal deposition open under at the surface of the cortex. This suggests that sub-periosteal accretion was still actively proceeding when the animal died. At some distance from the surface, circular vascular canals experience resorption. Inner bone is formed by complex, remodelled endosteal trabeculae rather than typical Haversian systems. Comments. The section suggests an immature, fast growing bone, perhaps exposed to peculiar biomechanical demands for a land dwelling mammal. 30. Glyptodon “ cubitus ”. Pencil number: 48, ink label: 1938 - 612. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A longitudinal section (12 × 10 mm) in compact bone. The section agrees with the description above. It documents the high vascularisation of the periosteal bone tissue via longitudinal, circular and some radial canals, and also the development of Sharpey’s fibers. 31. Glyptodon “ cubitus ”. Pencil number: 48, ink label: 1938 - 612. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small longitudinal section (4 × 10 mm in two parts) in compact bone. The natural subperiosteal surface of the bone is exposed on one side of the section, while the endosteal (perimedullar) region is exposed on the other side. What can be deciphered is consistent with the preceding section. 32. Glyptodon “ cubitus ”. No pencil number. Ink label: Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small longitudinal section (7 × 9 mm) in compact bone. In this better preserved section, the primary structure of the densely vascularized bone cortex is easily observed. 33. Glyptodon “ cubitus ”. No pencil number. Ink label: Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A larger longitudinal section (14 × 9 mm) in compact bone. No primary bone at the subperiosteal surface is observed. The section is entirely composed by the inner secondary bone tissue. The stout longitudinally organized endosteal trabeculae leave between them only relatively small marrow spaces.	en	Ricqlès, Armand de, Taquet, Philippe, Buffrenil, Vivian de (2009): “ Rediscovery ” of Paul Gervais’ paleohistological collection. Geodiversitas 31 (4): 943-971, DOI: 10.5252/g2009n4a943
4D3087DEFFC59B0DFD14FF2BFCB6F94B.taxon	description	Description. A cross section in compact bone tissue. The section is irregular in shape, about 8 × 5 mm. It seems that an original external free surface of the bone is preserved. The external cortex is characterized by many osteons in a periosteal tissue containing many Sharpey’s fibers. A few osteons appear to be primary, longitudinally oriented and lying comformably within the periosteal tissue. However, many osteons are secondary, as evidenced by their inconformity with neighbouring structures. Deeper in the bone, most osteons are secondary, although some primary tissue, with Sharpey’s fibers, locally form an “ intersticial system ” between them. Most secondary osteons are well defined, with a small diameter Haversian canal in the middle. Very few wide open erosion rooms are observed and there is no generalized superposition of several generations of osteons. Comments. The tissue can be described as “ dense Haversian bone ” although there are probably more primary osteons than suggested by a quick casual observation and secondary osteon overlaping is not overwhelming. Most secondary osteons would be thus of “ first generation ”, suggesting a not so mature tissue. As frequent in fossil dense Haversian tissues (especially from Hadrosaurs “ ossified tendons ”) numerous short radial cracks unite the peripheries of neighbouring secondary osteons, crossing the cementing line limiting each secondary osteon. 83. “ Côte fossile d’un Cétacé, section en travers ”. Pencil number: 116, ink label: Anat. Comp. 116. Description. A smaller cross section in compact bone from the same material as above (82) but slightly thinner, allowing sharper observation, but with no preserved peripheral cortex. A few wide open erosion rooms and some “ third generation ” secondary osteons are observed. 84. Champsodelphis macrogenius? “ terrains de ... ”. Ink label: Anat. Comp. 1876. Description. An irregular and ovoid cross section in a tooth 6 × 3 mm. Most of the section is formed of a highly birefringent tissue, surrounding an oval central structure about 2 × 1 mm. The external tissue is entirely non-vascular but densely cellular, and entirely permeated by an extremely large number of thin, slightly undulating and very long radial fibres. Many circumferential lines, closer to each others towards the periphery, are resolved as associated with cracks in the tissue. Although those lines are artefactual, at least in part, they strongly suggest lines of cyclical deposition. The inner tissues are sharply delineated from the external one by a clear discontinuity. Deeper to this discontinuity, a first thin layer is amorphous, isotropic and featureless. Then a second thicker discontinuity circles the most internal tissue. The latter is highly birefringent and surrounds a tiny, central free pulp cavity. The internal tissue appears mostly globular, especially close to its periphery. Birefringence underlines both radial and circumferential organizations. Successive circumferential regions of relatively more globular or more inotropic mineralizations (sensu Ørvig 1967) seem to alternate. Elongate, very thin radial fibres can be observed, perhaps as numerous, but far less obvious, than in the surrounding cellular tissue. Comments. Champsodelphis Gervais 1848 in Gervais 1848 - 1852 was erected on material from the middle to the upper Miocene of Europe (Simpson 1945). By comparison with available data (e. g., Schmidt & Kiel 1971) we interpret the cellular, non vascular tissue in the periphery as a very thick coat of cementum. Radial fibres there would be the anchoring fibres, akin to Sharpey’s fibres. The inner tissue can be interpreted as orthodentine, although of a highly globular variety. The thin amorphous coating at the periphery remains puzzling. It appears to be natural and well in situ between cementum and dentin. Its optical properties do not suggest enamel, an interpretation which would also be contradicted by its surrounding by the cementum.	en	Ricqlès, Armand de, Taquet, Philippe, Buffrenil, Vivian de (2009): “ Rediscovery ” of Paul Gervais’ paleohistological collection. Geodiversitas 31 (4): 943-971, DOI: 10.5252/g2009n4a943
4D3087DEFFC99B00FD7DFEC4FD0DF94B.taxon	description	Description. A thin bony “ scale ” probably detached or sawed from a shaft and sectioned transversely. The section (9 × 2 mm) is technically good. One side of the section, flat and perhaps sawed off, is entirely Haversian with small secondary osteons and a few, much larger, irregular ones. Deeper in the section, the bone is entirely formed by larger and larger endosteal osteons, ending into large, broken endosteal trabeculae. Comments. The structure strongly suggests a perimedullar region in the endosteal margin. 98. “ Mastodonte de Sansan, cubitus ”. Pencil number: 271, ink label: 1938 - 582. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A larger section about 10 × 12 mm. The bone, sectioned longitudinally, is compact and displays a complex structure, with large, longitudinally sectioned secondary osteons spreading in a complex of dense endosteal trabeculae. Comments. This longitudinal section matches the bone organization in an endosteal margin. 99. “ Mastodonte de Sansan, cubitus ”. Pencil number: 271, ink label: 1938 - 582. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A large section about 13 × 12 mm. The bone is sectioned longitudinally. The structures, similar to those of no. 98, are typical of a well developed endosteal margin. 100. “ Mastodon arvernensis, cubitus ”. Pencil number: 270, ink label: 1938 - 582. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small and technically good cross section about 5 × 7 mm, in compact bone. The free surface of the bone cortex is not available. The tis- sue is entirely dense Haversian. Several generations of secondary osteons are locally visible, together with active erosion bays and secondary osteons at various stages of deposition. Osteonal lamellation and cell lacunae with canaliculi are generally well marked. The periphery of most osteons is brightly birefringent. 101. “ Mastodon arvernensis, cubitus ”. Pencil number: 270, ink label: 1938 - 582. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A longitudinal section of 19 × 12 mm in bone cortex. The section contains two fragments with different structures. One fragment, covered by sediment, shows the free external surface of the cortex on its two sides (because of tangential effect of the section in a convex structure). This superficial cortex is largely monorefringent, and contains a few longitudinally and circularly oriented primary vascular canals, and numerous Sharpey’s fibers. Deeper in the cortex, the structure becomes almost entirely Haversian. The external cementing lines of the secondary osteons are clear, as well as their central Haversian canal and its anastomoses branching laterally. This is well developed in the second fragment. 102. “ Elephas meridionalis du Gard, Radius ”. Pencil number: 269, ink label: 1938 - 592. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A longitudinal section (14 × 10 mm) in a relatively spongy bone. The section is entirely composed of secondary endosteal trabeculae, probably from the periphery of the marrow cavity. 103. “ Elephas meridionalis du Gard, Radius ”. Pencil number: 269, ink label: 1938 - 592. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A cross section in cortical bone and endosteal margin. The section broke during the technical process, which hinders observations. The free surface of the bone and its external-most cortex are lacking. Tiny remains of the periosteal bone tissue can nevertheless be observed locally: they contain longitudinally and circularly oriented small primary osteons embedded in an apparent lamellar matrix containing Sharpey’s fibres. No fibro-lamellar organization of the laminar or plexiform subtypes could be deciphered. Most cortical bone is densely Haversian. This secondary cortex gently merges, very progressively, into a well-developed endosteal margin, with larger and larger endosteal osteons and large secondary endosteal trabeculae. Comments. The sections seem to come from the very large skeleton of E. meridionalis (synomym of Mammuthus meridionalis Nesti, 1825) found in Durfort (Gard) and mounted in the Galerie de Paléontologie of the MNHN (see Gaudry 1893). 104. “ Dinotherium teutobochus, humerus ”. Pencil number: 272, ink label: 1938 - 587. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small (4 × 6 mm) longitudinal section that apparently comes from an endosteal margin subject to diffuse erosion. However, a small region is formed by periosteal tissue with Sharpey’s fibers, and possibly a “ bright line ” of the laminar bone pattern. The numerous osteocytic lacunae and canaliculi are of exceptional sharpness. 105. “ Dinotherium teutobochus, humerus ”. Pencil number: 272, ink label: 1938 - 587. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A larger (about 16 × 9 mm) and very thin cross section in bone cortex. No remains of the bone free surface are left. The whole section is formed of typical dense Haversian tissue. Several generations of secondary osteons are present. Osteon size becomes larger towards a region likely closer from the endosteal margin. 106. “ Dinotherium teutobochus, humerus ”. Pencil number: 272, ink label: 1938 - 587. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small (10 × 3 mm plus fragment) longitudinal section probably from the endosteal margin. 107. “ Dinotherium teutobochus, humerus ”. Pencil number: 272, ink label: 1938 - 587. Anat. Comp. 1878. Description. A small (7 × 5 mm) cross section in cancellous bone. The tissue is formed of complex endosteal trabeculae, with extensive evidence of erosion / reconstruction cycles. In the thickness of some trabeculae, typical smaller secondary osteons were laid down. Between the network of trabeculae, a rather regular pattern of circular marrow spaces is produced. Comments. No remains of either periosteal bone or tissues of endochondral origin are left within the trabeculae, which suggests a perimedullar spongiosa from the bone shaft. 108. “ Dinotherium de Pikermi ”. No label and date. Description. A large (about 20 × 10 mm) longitudinal section, in poor condition. Both bad post mortem preservation, technical and curation problems (the balsam is badly cracked) prevent meaningful comments. The cover slip was rectangular and apparently disapeared. Observation at high magnification confirms the generalized invasion of the bone tissue by post mortem boring organisms. 109. (N- 13) – “ Ivoire fossile lot no. 1650. 1866, Charles Marchand Préparateur à Paris ”. Pencil label: 34 no. 99. Description. A section of 10 × 5 mm in a homogeneous dentinal tissue. Macroscopically, the whole section is divided by numerous wide undulating lines, roughly parallel to each others. They can be observed only in polarized light (crossed nicols) and are produced by the regular ordering of the dentinal tubules over great distances. The numerous tiny dentinal tubules appear to be sectioned transversally and somehow obliquely. The tissue is pervaded by numerous black spots with stellate, irregular limits, which appear to be metallic oxides.	en	Ricqlès, Armand de, Taquet, Philippe, Buffrenil, Vivian de (2009): “ Rediscovery ” of Paul Gervais’ paleohistological collection. Geodiversitas 31 (4): 943-971, DOI: 10.5252/g2009n4a943
