140 



process is essential to this fossil, and that one of them, at least, be- 

 longs to each of the cylindrical bodies. 



As in the former fossil, so in this, these forms proceeding from the 

 wonderful labours of some lost polypean architect, do not appear to 

 have extended, in the least degree, lower than the surface ; the mass 

 of stone being formed, up to the very surface just described, of the 

 same calcareous matters, as in the former fossil. 



Mr. Walch considers this fossil as a cast of a tubularia of six co- 

 lumns : he, however, observes, that the tubules from which the casts 

 have been formed, are not here the same as they are in the petrifac- 

 tions of other countries ; for that, instead of these tubes being resu- 



O O 



larly directed either obliquely upwards, or disposed horizontally, or 

 symmetrically placed at a distance from each other, the tubules, or 

 rather their casts, seem to owe their situation on the surface of the 

 stone to an accidental arrangement. Their form, in Mr. Walch's opi~ 

 nion, shews, that they were moulded in striated tubulites, with den- 

 tated edges, and longitudinal slight depressions *. 



Mons. Faujas St. Fond, speaking of this fossil, which he has 

 figured, Plate XXXVI. Fig. 7> of his work, remarks, that it is ex- 

 ceedingly perplexing to attempt to class this fossil in a distinct and 

 appropriate place. The extremely minute protuberances on the sur- 

 face, which, from their regular disposal, give to it an appearance of 

 ermine, he thinks has been, beyond a doubt, the work of polypes f ; 

 but in Faujas St. Fond's description of this fossil, no notice is taken 

 of the small lateral processes, which I have described as passing be- 

 tween, and connecting the cylindrical projecting bodies, and the gra- 

 nulated surface. The specimen, which has been here copied, agrees, 

 so exactly, in every other respect, with the fossil delineated and. de- 

 scribed by Faujas St. Fond, as not to leave a doubt of their being 



* Kecueil des Monumens, &c. Tome Troisieme, p. 162. 

 t Histoire Naturellc de la Montagne de St. Pierre, p. 19 



