94 



the one of which is fleshy, and the other osseous. The latter, he adds, 

 is formed into spines ; which, near the cortical part, are in great number, 

 and closely intermingled ; being about the length of two lines, and 

 even longer. They are either of a fusiform figure, or are finely pointed 

 at one end, and then gradually enlarge towards the middle: then, 

 diminishing as they lengthen, they divide into three sharp conical 

 points, around which are fixed numerous minute globular bodies, 

 which are chiefly found in the cortical part. 



A very strict examination, with a lens, of the surface of nume- 

 rous fossil alcyonia, did not however discover any appearance of si- 

 milar spines, and almost induced me to a ready concurrence with 

 Plancus, who relates, that he has dissected various bodies of this kind, 

 and has seen the osseous fibres disposed in a radiated form ; but as to 

 the wonderful *bark, the structure of which is so floridly described by 

 Donati, he says, I have not seen it, and observes that the same thing 

 has happened to him, with respect to the greater part of the figures in 

 Donates book, which, he says, are embellishments of the designer, 

 drawn by the rule and compass, rather than in agreement with the 

 truth and simplicity of nature*. 



Being in possession of another specimen of this kind, formed of a 

 much harder and closer stone, and which from its appearance I sup- 

 posed to be invested with its cortical parjt, I resolved to sacrifice it to 

 a more rigorous search for the spines described by Donati, concluding 

 that, since all agreed as to their differing in their bony hardness from 

 the other parts of this animal, I should at least discover some traces 

 of them, although I might not be able to make out their form. 



This fossil was therefore subjected to the only modes of dissection 

 which I could employ with substances possessing a stony hardness. 

 A polished section of it was obtained on different parts of it, and at 



* De Conehis minus notis. App. II. page 115. 



