to have been formed of detached parts, perhaps tubules, which have 

 originated on the borders of the central cavity and have radiated 

 regularly round it. Fig. 13, is a magnified representation of a section 

 of one of the round bodies, by which the above description will be 

 better understood. That these substances did not originally exist in 

 a silicious state may be inferred from the appearance observable in a 

 few of the striated parts, denoting their having suffered a degree of 

 flexion : a circumstance which could not have occurred if they had 

 been in a hard and rigid state, 



To what kind of substance this stone is indebted for its origin, is 

 not possible perhaps at present to say. It is admitted in this place, 

 in consequence of the resemblance it bears in some respects to 

 the preceding specimens ; and with the hope that information re- 

 specting it may be obtained, from the remarks made Vm some more 

 illustrative specimen. 



Some of the extraordinary circumstances which have arrested our 

 attention, whilst examining into the nature of fossil corals, now demand 

 a few general remarks. You cannot but have observed how com- 

 pletely I was foiled, in my attempt to preserve a parallel between 

 the fossil corals which I have particularised, and the several corals 

 which are enumerated in the Systema Naiurce of Linnaeus. Indeed, 

 so little could this parallel be preserved, so little agreement could be 

 traced between the recent and the fossil corals, that I find myself 

 under the necessity of acknowledging, that I am not certain of the 

 existence of the recent analogue of any really mineralized coral. 



This dissimilarity between the creatures of this and the creatures of 

 the former world^ is a circumstance which appears to be so inexplicable, 

 that I can only admit it, without attempting to account for it. It how- 

 ever furnishes us, I think, with a strong argument against that theory, 

 which -supposes the changes which this planet has undergone are all 

 attributable to the constant, regular, and gradual processes of nature, 



