234 THE MEDALS OF CREATION. Cuar. VIL. 
bundles of tubes, and probably also in its constituent sub- 
stance. Among the Sussex and Wiltshire chalk-flints speci- 
mens of this zoophyte are very common; they are easily 
recognized by the peculiar markings produced by the silicified — 
tubes that radiate from the centre, as seen in Lign. 75, fig. 4. 
Lien. 75. CHOANITES KonietI. (G. A, M.) 
Chalk, Lewes. 
Fig. 1.—Transverse section of a siliceous specimen. 
2.—Upper portion of a Choanite, in chalk, showing the opening 
of the central cavity at a. 
3.—Vertical section of a Choanite, in flint, exposing a section 
of the mass, and canals passing obliquely from the 
central cavity, through the substance. 7 
4.—Choanite in flint; the usual appearance of these fossils. % 
5.—Various kinds of Spicuta of fossil sponges ; magnified. 
t 
The semi-diaphanous pebbles on the Sussex coast, more fre-— 
quently contain Choanites than any other zoophytes. From 
the beautiful and varied markings observable in the polished 
sections, they are in great request for brooches, and are 
termed petrified sea-animal flowers* by the lapidaries ; among — 
* From the supposition that the original was an Actinia, or Sea- 
Anemone. A coloured vertical section of a pebble of this kind is— 
