parts. On one part of the specimen is represented the star which 

 appears on a transverse section being made of one of these bodies. 

 The perpendicular lamellae, which correspond with the longitudinal 

 external striae, vary in number and length ; but all proceed from the 

 circumference towards the centre, and, as in the madreporean stars in 

 general, are intersected by perpendicular lamellae, disposed in con- 

 centric circles, and by others passing in a transverse direction. 



It may not be amiss to observe in this place, that the numerous 

 sections of fossil corals to which I have been under the necessity of 

 having recourse, have shewn that the number of radii in the stars is a 

 circumstance too variable to be employed as it has been by Mr. Ellis, 

 Dr. Solander, and the illustrious Linnaeus, to mark a specific difference. 

 Thus in the coral now before us, the radii agreeing with the number of 

 striae observable externally, and the number of these depending on 

 frequency of their divarication which must of course be according 

 to the extent of the growth of the coral ; the number of striae must 

 differ very much in the less grown coral, or in a section of its narrow 

 part, from what would be found in the full grown coral, or in a section 

 of its most enlarged part. The application of this observation to every 

 madrepore which expands with its growth, must be sufficiently obvious. 



This fossil has not to my knowledge been yet noticed by any author, 

 neither do I discover that it has been known to exist in a recent 

 state. 



The fossil which is represented, Plate VI. Fig. 7, is particularly 

 deserving of attention. It is composed of a coral in a mineralized 

 state, imbedded in, and indeed helping to form, a dark coloured lime- 

 stone, the interstitial part of which has evidently owed its origin to 

 the disintegration of shells, corals, &c. and to the chemical recompo- 

 sition of their particles. 



The coral itself appears to have consisted of deeply striated and 

 nearly cylindrical branches, which are, in general, about half an inch 



