derived their origin from the viscosity of the earth ; nor, with Wood- 

 ward, that the corals, &c. being brought into a state of solution, at 

 the time of the Deluge, their particles, after some time, uniting and 

 combining into masses, composed the nodules of coral, &c. which are 

 now found deposited in the bowels of the earth. 



The existence in subterranean situations of the ramose, and other 

 corals, which bore an exact resemblance to those which were known 

 to be the inhabitants of the ocean, was, however, long attempted to 

 be accounted for, by suppositions approaching no nearer to proba- 

 bility than these. Count Moscardi (Not. Overo Museo de Conte de 

 Lod. Moscardo, p. 187-) and Oligerius Jacobaeus (Mus. Reg. p. 3.) 

 were, however, led by the appearance of some of the fossil alcyonia, 

 to suppose that they had actually undergone a change, and were real 

 petrifactions. But they still were totally 'ignorant of the real origin 

 of these substances ; and, misled by their forms, they believed them 

 to be different species of terrestrial fungi. 



The learned Buttner, in the year 1714, removed every doubt re- 

 specting the origin of these bodies, and rendered it manifest, that all 

 fossil corals had primarily been the inhabitants of the ocean. This 

 opinion was opposed, indeed, by our countryman WOODWARD, but 

 with arguments too futile to require notice ; it therefore was generally 

 accepted, and the knowledge of the real nature of fossil corals was 

 established. 



