found united by their flat surfaces, like the trochites; and thus forming 

 a prismatic column, they were termed ASTERIAE COLUMN ARES, or 

 Columnar Star-stones. To these, branches were found united, which, 

 terminating in bodies disposed in beautiful floscular forms, were termed 

 ENCRINI. 



The Asteriae, or Star-stones, are small, flat, stellular, or pentagonal 

 stones, ornamented, on both their upper and under surfaces, with a 

 star or flower of five rays or petals, formed by very minute ridges, 

 placed obliquely in two curved lines, meeting, either in a pointed or 

 in a rounded form, at their outer extremities, and approaching to, and 

 sometimes meeting each other nearly in the centre of the body, where 

 the marks of a minute circular opening may be seen. These stones 

 have been also termed Stellarice andLapides Stellares, and by the Ger- 

 mans, Sternsteines. The species or varieties of these stones, like those 

 of the trochites, are very numerous ; but, in the subsequent inquiry, 

 I shall think it necessary to notice those only which differ essentially 

 from each other. 



" Palmati circa Mundam in Hispania, ubi Caesar Dictator Pompei- 

 um vicit reperiuntur, idque quoties fregeris*." From this passage Mr. 

 Walch is disposed to believe that Pliny had some knowledge, if not of 

 the encrinus, at least of the trochites and asteriae. These words, he 

 thinks, can bear no other meaning than, that on breaking these stones, 

 markings resembling those of the leaves of a palrn-tree, were disco- 

 vered: and therefore, he supposes, that the stones spoken of were en- 

 -trochi or columnar asteriae, which, on being separated, displayed the 

 markings resembling leaves. This opinion, he supports, by observ- 

 ing, that Torrubia, in his Natural History of Spain, informs us, that in 

 that country trochites and asteriae are at present found -J-. 



* Historiae Naturalis. Lib. XXXV. cap. 18. 



t From some specimens which I possess, from the mountains in the neighbourhood of 



