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LETTER VIII. 



OTHER MADREPORES, NOT PERHAPS KNOWN IN A FOSSIL STATE.... 

 MADREPORA FAVOS A. ...MADREPORA RETEPORA....M. ANANAS, &C. 



M. FOLIOSA, &C ASTROITES.....LITI1OSTROTION OF LIIWYDD 



SPIDER STONE OF BRUCKMAN. 



W E now proceed to make inquiry respecting the fossil remains of 

 those madrepores which are composed of many stars. The first of 

 these in the Linnsean order of classification are those which are con- 

 catenated v and formed by disjoined stars, with continuous lamellae. 



These are madrepora pileus, in. cristata, m. lactuca, in. jicoides, m. 

 acerosa, m. lichen, in. agaricites, m. elephantotus, m. Crustacea, m. in- 

 crustaus, m. exesa, in. filograna, in. natans, m. antlwphyllum : but I have 

 not been able to discover any of the remains of these in a mineralized 

 state. 



Those madrepores, which are distinguished as being conglomerated; 

 the stars of which are united together, form the next objects of our 

 inquiry. Of these, madrepora labyrinthica, which has no stem, and 

 the stars of which are divided by obtuse sutures, extended in laby- 

 rinthian windings, I have more reason to suppose may exist in a 

 mineralized state. From the form of this coral, which is generally 

 approaching to a hemisphere, and from its upper surface, which is 

 marked with convolutions much resembling those of the brain, it has 

 acquired the common appellation of brain-stone. This coral is chiefly 

 found in a recent state on the rocks which surround the West-India 

 islands. But I have repeatedly seen among the boulders with which 

 some of our streets are paved, and which I am informed are chiefly 



