THE BELEMNITE. 315 



been most perfectly developed in the lias seas. We have before 

 described a cephalapod called the orthoceratite, (page 306), sub- 

 sequently we find this animal displaced by one with a curved and 

 somewhat angular shell during the carboniferous formation, still 

 later "during the deposition of the lias and oolitic beds, we find 

 another change under the form of the ammonite; at the same 

 time the nautilus, a well known cephalapodous animal, closely 

 related to the ammonite, was likewise abundant. The nautilus 

 still inhabits our tropical seas, and unfolds its fleshy sails to the 

 gentle breezes, but long since the ammonite has been extinct. 

 Another of the same class or group of animals, and which is now 

 represented by the cuttle-fish, is the animal of the belemnite. 

 The fossil called the be\emnit& from its resemblance to a dart or 

 javelin, is not uncommon, and is found of various lengths and is 



sometimes called by the singular names of the devil's toe-nail, 

 thunderbolt, &c.; the general appearance of the fossil is howev- 

 er as represented in fig. 1, and perhaps no organic remains have 

 ever caused more ludicrous mistakes, or given rise to more fanci- 

 ful theories. It is the internal skeleton of an animal very much 

 like the cuttle-fish, and represented in fig. 2. From the fossil re- 

 mains, this animal appears to have been exceedingly large and 

 formidable, preying upon the smaller fishes and reptiles, it was 

 furished with eight long arms, each provided with from fifteen to 

 twenty hooks; the eyes were large and the jaws powerful. Like 

 the common squid, it seems to hnve been provided with an oval 

 sac, containing a dark fluid, ejected by the animal when alarmed 

 in order to discolor the water aud facilitate its escape. During 



