233 



met with, and which he had found in Caldey Island, he says, " At 

 'originem, si attendamus, non aliud revera est, quam stellae cujusdam 

 fossilis modiolus *." 



These fossils are found in great numbers in- the mountains of 

 Switzerland, 'particularly in those of the Canton of Zurich, and of 

 SchafThausen. The form which they bear certainly approaches very 

 nearly to that of a clove. The lower extremity is pierced in its centre, 

 with a small opening, which is surrounded by a crenulated surface, 

 fitted for articulation with a tfochital vertebrae, From this termina- 

 tion the body of the fossil gradually enlarges, and is so extended, as 

 to terminate in five points, with five intermediate circular margins ; 

 and to form, in the upper part, a slight concavity, answering to the 

 pelvis in the larger encrinites, with a relieved stellated figure in its 

 centre. In each of the circular margins ate two depressions, in which, 

 in all probability, were fixed the first ossiculae of the arms of this ani- 

 mal. Viewing this body with a lens of tolerable power, it is seen, 

 that a suture passes from each of the five points, just described, 

 through the centre of the inferior extremity; dividing this body into 

 five ossiculae, as we saw was the case with the Ossa Innominata of the 

 lily encrinite. That this, agreeable to the opinion of Rosinus, is the 

 central part of some species of encrinites, not yet known, is all that 

 can at present be asserted of it. With respect to its vertebrae, it is 

 observed by Mr. Walch, that one of the barrel -formed trochitae has 

 been seen attached to the articular surface of this body. This obser- 

 vation encouraged rne to offer a conjecture, that it may be the pelvis 

 belonging to the barrel-formed vertebrae, Fig. 7'8, last described ; jj-ie 

 organ of attachment belonging to which, I have ventured to suppose, 

 was the bodies represented Fig. 77. This opinion being correct, the 

 appellation of THE CLOVE ENCRINITE appears to be applicable to 

 it his species. 



i 



* Epistola ad Augustum Quirhmm Rivinum 

 VOL. II. H H 



