185 



Presuming that the discolouration of the parts, their anchylosis, 

 and their superadded powers of support, prove previous disease, and 

 the consequent exertions of the healing powers of nature, I shall next 

 endeavour to discover, whether these circumstances will at all contri- 

 bute to any further knowledge respecting the nature and economy of 

 this curious animal. 



Attention to the principles by which these processes are conducted, 

 teaches us, that such an union as has been just remarked, does not 

 take place between the parts of different animals, except between 

 such as either do not possess the powers of locomotion, or are incapa- 

 ble of any considerable motion of the parts of which they are com- 

 posed, as is the case with shell-fish. But the form and structure, and 

 in particular, the numerous articulations of this animal, shew that, even 

 if the animal itself had been fixed, like other zoophytes, to a base, this 

 part of it was susceptible of considerable play, and that therefore such 

 an union would not be likely to take place between the parts of diffe- 

 rent animals, even of the same species ; and hence we may conclude 

 that the two united columns of vertebrae in this specimen belonged to 

 one animal. But further, since, upon the authority of Rosinus, it ap- 

 pears, that several of these columns may be thus united, we may con- 

 clude that several of these trunks may proceed from the same base. 

 That it is that part of the vertebral columns nearest to their inferior 

 termination, or to their union with their base, appears to be highly pro- 

 bable, from these united vertebra being apparently of the largest or- 

 der; and from the marks of injury, and of most careful reparation, being- 

 most reasonably expected to be found near to their termination or 

 point of attachment, where, necessarily, must have been their greatest 

 play, and the greatest probability of their sustaining injury and re- 

 quiring support. Every circumstance, then, being taken into consi- 

 deration, there exists, I think, considerable reason for supposing that 

 this fossil was the inferior termination, or organof attachment of this 

 animal. 



VOL. IT. B B 



