FOSSIL ALCYONIA. 37 



The pedicles are in general of a conical form, and not un- 

 frequeutly flattened. 



By grinding the globular part as well as the pedicle on Texture of 

 a stone, he discovered that {heir texture appeared to be ^ l ^ r pam SI " 

 similar, and that by the frequent raaiifi cations of the fibres, 

 of which their substance was composed, a net work was 

 formed, not much unlike the parenchyma of vegetables. 

 We therefore perceive that a loose resemblance, sufficient to 

 excuse the vulgar opinion of their origin, is observable be- 

 tween these bodies and the terrestrial fruits. These bodies, 

 like fruits, appear to have been formed chiefly of a paren- 

 chymatous substance ; their pedicle seems to answer to the 

 ftalk ; whilst the opening on their superior part agrees 

 with what is termed the eye of fruits. But a little atten- its difference 



tion shews that, unlike to the parenchyma of fruits, which from that of 



, _ .... . ii fruits. 



is formed ot vessels terminating in minute points, the sub- 

 stance of these bodies is formed of a species of net-work, 

 which, as M. Guettard observes, if all the matter contained 

 within the meshes could be removed, would resemble a 

 skain of thread, of which one part, answering to the pedi- 

 cle, is pinched together, and the other, answering to the 

 bodv, is spread out without being cut. Again, the eye, in 

 fruits, is not pervious, as is that part which answers to it ' 

 in these fossils. ; nor does the pedicle at all agree with the 

 stalk of fruits, either in proportionate size, or in figure. 



Scheuchzer describing a fossil of this kind refers it to the Fossil suppos- 

 alcyonium stupposum Jmperati* ; but of the identity of * d l0 ** a se ** 

 these substances Mons. Guettard, with much propriety, 

 doubts ; although he allows that the external form, and par- 

 ticularly the opening in the upper part, might readily lead 

 to this supposition, This doubt arose in the mind of 

 M. Guettard, from comparing the ftructure of one of the 

 alcyonium stupposum of Irnperatus with the description of 

 its structure as given by John Bauhin and by Count Mar- 

 silli ; the result of his comparison being, that both the 

 descriptions were in some respects erroneous. Taught by 

 careful examination, he states it to be composed of fibres, 

 jmore or less fine, intersecting each other, without order or 



• JLithograp. Helvet. P. 15. 



regularity, 



