Prof. Gefmar on the Petrifactions of Osteixveddigeii. 371 



both strongly ribbed longitudinally, and toothed at the mar- 

 gin ; the larger one was of about nine, the smaller of about 

 three lines in length. On some casts the impressions of the 

 abductor muscle were very strongly marked. 



Many of the Bivalves and Univalves were frequently found 

 with round holes bored into them, which indicated the pre- 

 sence of some predaceous Trachclipodes {? Bohnnascheln), al- 

 though none of them were found. We met with, however, 

 a cylindrical irregularly bent tube, which might have origi- 

 nated from a Teredo, but perhaps from a Serpnla. 



Dcntalites were dispersed about in great mnnbers, yet always 

 as casts only, very rarely in single fossil liagments. They 

 were an inch in length, two lines wide at the base, their trans- 

 verse section circular, and tapered uniformly and with a gradual 

 flexure towards the apex. The shell appeared to have been 

 smooth. 



Of Corallines single bits of Madrepores and Millepores were 

 observed. But a species of Coral likewise occurred, consist- 

 ing entirely of cylindrical branches, variously grouped to- 

 gether, without a mutual trunk ; and the hollow spaces of 

 which were every where filled with sand, which prevented an 

 examination of the surface of these branches. They formied, 

 as it appeared, small running banks in the sand. 



Whether Echini iilso existed here cannot be ascertained 

 with certainty; but certain bodies appeared, which most pro- 

 bably were fragments of their spines, though no further tracies 

 of them were discovejable. 



Teeth of fishes, or the so-called Glossopetra, might be col- 

 lected in abundance; and, if we may be permitted to conclude, 

 from the variety of their foi'm, upon the vaiiety of animals to 

 which they belonged, they indicated several species of preda- 

 ceous fishes not of great size. 



The above are the genera and species of fossil bodies I 

 have observed in this place; manifestly real marine produC" 

 tions, and, with the exception of oyster shells, of proportion- 

 ably small size. To judge tVom the Iretjuency of the indivi- 

 dual sliells met with, I should characterize this stratum of 

 sand by the genera Bulla, Natica, Fasciolaria, Ostrea, Venus, 

 and Vencricardia. My endeavours to iletermine the species 

 more exactly after Lamarck were in vain, and I am compelled 

 to conclude, that amongst the fossil shells of France there 

 are few or no species identical with those found near Magde- 



Cuvier, in the new edition of his Geological Description of 

 Paris, einimerates the following series of formations, com- 

 mencing with theciialk: — 



3 A 2 1. (Vial/n 



