Having now concluded the examination of fossil shells, Conchyliolithi, 

 I must again say a few words in anticipation of the censures which may 

 await me, from those who may think the classification I have adopted, 

 with its manifold genera, a too wide and improper deviation from that 

 of the great Linnoeus. Had I to have treated of recent shells, a slight 

 deviation might have been sufficient; but when fossil shells are the sub- 

 jects of our inquiry, this is riot sufficient. Few of these, comparatively, 

 were known in that classification : many of them Were even without, 

 names, except such as were derived from some erroneous notion of their 

 origin ; but, by the classification of Lamarck, there hardly remains any 

 among the fossil-shells, whose generic situations ape not now clearly ascer 

 tairted. 



LETTER XVI. 



FOSSIL FISH. ...OP VESTENA NUOVA, PAPPENHEIM, MAWSFELD, &C 



OF ENGLAND. 



1 HE examination of the various circumstances which offer themselves 

 to our observation, whilst contemplating the fossil remains of fishes, can- 

 not fail of being highly interesting, and is at the same time very likely to 

 throw some light on the mysterious events by which their deaths and their 

 subsequent conservation has been effected. 



These curious remains exist in various parts of the world; but the 

 repository most abundant in these fossils appears to be that of the moun- 

 tain Vestena nova, improperly named Monte Bolca. 



This quarry was formerly purchased by the learned Scipio Maffei, 

 who spared no pains in acquiring the rich specimens which it yielded, 

 In these researches he was assisted by the celebrated Seguier, who there 

 formed an inestimable collection, which is now placed in the central 



