Geological Sodelij. 



46* 



beUveen the beds, showed their upjier and under surfaces 

 covered wiih lavers of thtge bodies heaped upon each other 

 and lyin'i prostrate in every possil)le direction; and in the 

 joints hetwetn llie beds where they were not separated, 

 thev were dislinctiv seen. 



The green sandstone and the limestone he found to be 

 the chief repositories of these bodies. In the ferruginous 

 sand below ihe preen sandstone he found none, and only a 

 few fra'jmenis of rylinders in the blue marl on which the 

 sandstone rests He traced them upwards into the chert; 

 but they theie became rare, and ihey totally disappeared in 

 the chalk-'narl. 



He found them, however, frequently in the Iragments of 

 flint lying on tnc shore. Mr. VVebsier having brought 

 away an exlensive series of specimens (v\hich he has since 

 deposited in the collection of tht; Society), submitted them 

 to the examination of Mr. Parkinson, who is of opinion 

 that they be!<'n<: to the genus Alcyonium, but that they are 

 of three or four diftVrent species, neither of which have 

 been hitherto described. From the resemblance which 

 these bodies hear to a closed tulip attached to its stalk, Mr. 

 W. suggests that the name of Tuiip yUajonium may be not 

 improperly applied. 



" Some observati(nis," by James ParkiiT^on, esq. (mem- 

 ber of the Geological Society,) " on the specimens of Hip- 

 pnrites from Sicilv," presented to the Society by the hon. 

 Henry Grey Bennet, (a men^.ber) were read. 



These specimens AJr. Parkinson considers to be such as 

 demand particular attention, as they possess those cliarac- 

 lers which will probably serve to correct some erroneous 

 opinions respecting the nature and habits of the animals 

 of which these shells were the dwellings. 



One of ihe specimens contains a nearly perfect shell, 

 longiiudin.aliy divided so as to display the two ridges with 

 the numerous septa and chambers. 



From an examination of these specimens, and by com- 

 parino; ihem with the oijscrvations he has betore had an op- 

 portunity of making, Mr. Parkinson is of opinion that liie 

 structure of the shell of the Hippurites is such' as would 

 enable the animal to raise itself lo the surface of the water. 

 This opinion is in opposition to that of M. Detiys dc 

 Mouilort and most of ibe French oryctologists, who con- 

 sider the Hippurites as belonsing lo uhat they ttrm pela- 

 gian shells, or such as consta^uly inhabit the bottom of the 

 sea, never rising to the surface or appearing on the shores, 

 and therefore that ihcre is uo I'.a-on :o believe ihoin as be- 

 longing 



