M. Miiller on Substances inclosed in Mochastones. 421 



In the centre of the globular body was a conformable dark red 

 nucleus e — h, k. 



Finally the whole mass was gelatinous ; as is indicated by the 

 thick indistinct outlines of all the figures and by the body marked 

 {i), from whose central opening the nucleus appears pressed, 

 which betokens clearly a gelatinous nature. 



The nucleus is found of various sizes, probably merely from dif- 

 ference of age. At {k) one is seen almost isolated. 



Fig. 3. — These figm-es also belong here, and are remarkable 

 and interesting enough. This chalcedony came from Oberstein, 

 whereas the other came from Siberia. The globules marked in 

 outline are here more aggregated than in fig. 11, but they ex- 

 hibit the same stnicturc and colour. 



AATiat these bodies are I dare scarcely conjecture. Here also 

 there are no organic remains ; and would we compare them with 

 some vegetable organ, the most appropriate should seem to be 

 some kind of berry. I must however repeat what was said under 

 fig. 10 : the collection of the bodies into a small space, and the 

 absence of other organic remains, are against such a supposition. 



Have we however before us some pristine inhabitant of the 

 water belonging to the animal kingdom ? If so, the black nucleus 

 must represent some organ ; possibly the stomach. 



AVe must here also wait patiently for further researches, and 

 content om'selves vdt\v the little which I am able with my feeble 

 powers to offer. May they only lead to further inquiries ; if so, 

 I shall be satisfied. 



§ 5. In what state are the Inclosed Substances found '^. 



If the worthy Goeppert, in the introduction to his work on fossil 

 plants, assumes three conditions (vid. Flor. 1840, p. 482), this 

 section may be regarded as indicating a fourth. For here clearly 

 the plants have undergone no chemical change. They were in- 

 closed in the original soft mass of the chalcedony, and so, when 

 this hardened, became impervious to atmospheric air and other 

 chemical agents. As also amber and copal present their insects 

 well-preserved, so here the mineral offers us its plants. 



Tlie whole alteration consists merely in the highly compressed 

 state in which most of the objects are found. The substance of 

 the plants is still precisely what it was at first. 



In conclusion I have only to state, that all the objects examined 

 are in the admirable minei-alogical collection of M. Siegismimd of 

 Jever, a most excellent and obliging naturalist. 



