166 Prof. Blum on the Fossil Eggs of Snakes. 



occupies the Qgg. In one specimen some of the calcareous 

 matrix, in which the eggs are found, has penetrated into the 

 inside ; in another it constitutes the whole substance of the 

 fossil. 



The forms exhibited by the calcspar crystals are a very 

 acute elongated Scaleno-hedron, combined with the primary 

 Rhombo-hedron (R.^^ j^.), and a less acute Scaleno-hedron, 

 with the acute Rhombo-hedron, f. (— R.^— 2 R.) 



To enable me to make observations myself on the fossil 

 eggs and the conditions under which they occur, HH. Rossler 

 and Witte had the kindness to arrange an excursion to the 

 place and shew me the exact spot. 



These eggs are found in the Tegel-formation of the district 

 of Offenbach, about half a league from thence, not far from 

 the village of Beiber, in the quarries on the road towards 

 Seligenstadt. 



A brackish water-limestone, which is hereabout exposed 

 in several quarries, exhibits a stratum of eight or ten inches 

 thick, which is distinguishable by its soft loamy nature from 

 the rock lying above and below it. In this the eggs are 

 chiefly to be met with ; for, according to the statement of the 

 workmen, they occur very seldom in the hard strata. The 

 whole rock belongs to the Paludina limestone, since Paludina 

 acuta {Littorinella acuta, Al. Braun.) composes chiefly the 

 mass. These little shells are here always enveloped in a 

 calcareous coating, and are held together by a more or less 

 pure calcareous matrix, so that the rock has a more or less 

 oolitic appearance. At isolated spots calcspar traverses the 

 rock in lines, or disposes itself in drusy cavities, in columnar 

 spars, or in crystals. The limestone is partly white, partly 

 more or less coloured yellow by hydrated oxide of iron. 

 Sometimes the colour is arranged in stripes, which traverse 

 the eggs also, when the latter are filled with the matrix. - 



The stratum that contains the eggs is moist, and so soft 

 that large pieces can with difficulty be removed ; by exposure 

 to the air it becomes somewhat harder and gradually becomes 

 white and chalky. The eggs occur in this bed either singly 

 or in groups. There are found also both in this softer, as 



