143 



bodies. This opinion, however, was set aside, by a more accurate ex- 

 amination with a lens : it then appearing probable, that these stellular 

 marks had resulted from the adhesion of some of the bases of the stel- 

 lated columns already described. This opinion was, indeed, almost 

 proved to be correct, by discovering that one of the collumnar stel- 

 lated bodies, which have been described as proceeding from the gene- 

 ral surface of the fossil, has been so far lengthened, as to be attached, by 

 its other extremity to the inferior surface of one of these oblong bo- 



/ O 



dies ; whilst, in another part, a fragment of one of these stellated co- 

 lumns is seen hanging from this same surface, the other end by which 

 it was connected with the general surface having been broken away. 



What was the original nature of these bodies is exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to determine. At the first glance they excite the idea of simila- 

 rity with the tophaceous coverings of mytuli, which are sometimes 

 found in the neighbourhood of Bath. Faujas St. Fond, indeed, de- 

 scribes a fossil, Planche XXXVI. Fig. 3, which, though much larger 

 than the body here described, has the same oblong spindle-like form, 

 being gradually contracted towards its base, where it again gently 

 swells out, and bearing some resemblance to a large spineof an echinus. 

 The fracture at the base of the fossil described by Faujas St. Fond, 

 decidedly demonstrates that its whole body has been formed by the 

 madreporean polype, whose labours have also adorned its surface with 

 stars elegantly formed, and somewhat resembling the petals of a 

 rlower. This fossil is considered by its ingenious describe!* as one of 

 the most singular productions of the whole genus. The fossil body, 

 which is described by Faujas St. Fond, does not, however, exactly 

 agree with that which is discovered on the fossil now under our exa- 

 mination ; since, in the latter body, there do not appear., any traces 

 of polypean labours, to which its formation can be attributed. 



To my worthy and respected fellow-labourer, Dr. Menish, of Chelms- 

 ford, I am obliged for the opportunity of having the engraving made, 

 Plate XII. Fig. 1, from a specimen in his collection. This fossil, which is 



