96 



The recent alcyonium, according to the Count, is of the form of a 

 fig, being attached to the rocks by branches proceeding from its 

 s/mallerend; its upper part being a little flattened, with a hole in the 

 middle. Its colour, he says, resembles that of tobacco, and its paren- 

 ctrymatous substance, he thinks, cannot be compared to any thing bet- 

 ter than to nutgalls, when well dried. In all these respects, a very 

 exact agreement seems to exist between the recent and fossil sub- 

 substances. Still, however, the fibres running over its surface, and 

 penetrating its substance, with the grooves which appear to have been 

 formed by other fibres, which are now removed, distinguish it, not 

 only from this, but, I believe, from all known alcyonia. This fossil is 

 from Wiltshire, and appears to be formed entirely of flint. 



The fossil, Plate IX. Fig. 3, from Mount Randenberg, near Schaf- 

 housen, in Switzerland, possesses evident marks of its alcyonic origin. 

 This fossil, like those of the ramose kind, figured in Plate VII., has 

 that reticular texture, which appears to be peculiar to the spongy al- 

 cyonia. In this specimen also, as well as in those, the reticular fibres 

 are impregnated with silica, and have their interstices filled with cal- 

 careous matter. In this as in the fossil last described, the remains 

 of the pedicle, the organ, by which its attachment to its appropriate 

 spot was accomplished, are observable ; as well as the superior open- 

 ing, which passes deep into the substance of the fossil. 



The fossil represented Plate IX. Fig. 5, and which is from the 

 neighbourhood of Saumur, being a very perfect fossil of the kind de- 

 scribed by Mons. Guettard, agrees, in its general characters, as well as 

 in its texture, with that one which has been just described. In this 

 specimen, at its superior surface, there are, as Mons. Guettard ob- 

 serves is sometimes the case, four openings ; and the pedicles, as well 

 a-s its lateral processes, which appear like roots, seem to have been 

 formed with a great degree of luxuriance. 



A very perfect fossil of this kind, and similar in its substance and 

 texture to the alcyonia, which have been just described, but of a dark 



