42 



referred to a wrong figure in the Corallia Baltica. Of its existence in 

 a fossil state I am unable to speak. Madrepora interstincta spo/igiosa, 

 does not appear to be known in a mineral state. Madrepora stdlulata, as 

 well as m. poculata, are sometimes seen in a state which would almost 

 incline to the suspicion of their being fossils; but as this state may be 

 induced by other causes, there does not seem to exist sufficient au- 

 thority for placing them amongst the fossil corals. Madrepora foliosa, 

 is very erroneously referred for illustration by Gmelin to Tab. II. Fig. 

 3 and 4, of Baier's Momimenta Rerum Petrificarum; since the figures 

 given by Baier are undoubtedly the representations of an alcyonium, 

 and is indeed designated by Baier as a fungites striatus. I do not 

 know of this madrepore having been discovered in a fossil state. 



The madrepora astroites of Linnaeus does not appear to be exactly 

 ascertained. According to the Linnaean description, it is formed of 

 stars very closely crowded together, (stellis confertissimis) whilst the 

 description of Solander and Ellis places porous interstices between the 

 stars, and the fossil coral of Mylius, which is referred to this species, 

 has very considerable interstices between the stars. Without dwelli:^ 

 here on the consideration of the recent coral, it is proper to remark, 

 that writers on secondary fossils have frequently applied the term 

 astroites^ generally, to all such fossil corals as present the appearance 

 of stars collected together; and have very seldom intended to designate 

 thereby any particular species ; but, on the contrary, have placed 

 under this title corals, differing very much from each other in size, and 

 in many other respects. Bertrand even considers the astroites as of a 

 different family from the madrepores. 



No fossil has been more frequently considered as an astroites than 

 that fossil madrepore which has been found so abundantly in some 

 parts of Wales, and which Lhwyd has named lithostrotion, sive basaltes 

 minimus striatus, et stcllatus*, from its resemblance, in miniature, to 



* Lithophylacii Britannici Ichnographia. Epistol. V. Tab. 23. 



