35 



other bodies. The author ofCoralliaBaltica very justly observes, that, 

 notwithstanding the strength which the opinion derives from this cir- 

 cumstance, there undoubtedly exists sufficient reason for dissenting 

 from it. 



The fossil, Plate IV. Fig. 10, from Gothland, possesses, like that at 

 Fig. 11, all the characters of the porpital madrepore on its disk, but 

 having its body extended into a conical shape, forms, as it were, the 

 link which connects into one species, the porpital madrepore and the 

 madrepore just described. 



The most curious fossil which I have seen of this kind, is one which 

 I obtained at the sale of the Leverian Museum. It has the complete 

 external characters of the porpital madrepore ; but is perfectly pel- 

 lucid, being formed of a fine transparent calcareous spar. 



These corallites have received various names from the older orycto- 

 logists. When the turbinated madrepore was formed of conical or 

 cylindrical pieces connected by seeming articulations, and possessing 

 a stellated cavity at one of its terminations, it was named hippurites 

 corallinus, calix hyppuriticus, and corallia gcniculata. By Bromell, 

 Langius, and others, all those of a more compressed form have been 

 named fungites; and that, not merely from their resemblance to 

 mushrooms, but from their having been actually supposed to be 

 those vegetable substances, in a state of petrifaction. Dr. Plot, and 

 others, have distinguished those which have possessed more of a cylin- 

 drical form by the name of columelli ; and Lhwydd has applied to 

 them the name of coliimneta* : both terms being diminutives of columna, 

 and intended to mark their resemblance to a little pillar. From the 

 similitude which they bear to horns they have also been termed 

 ceratitce recti et incurvati. Dr. Woodward comprehends both the 

 turbinated and the porpital madrepore under the term mycetita coral- 

 loides; distinguishing the former into mycetita conoides, sen calyciformes, 

 and the latter into mycetita discoides. 



