OF CREATION. 



245 



r~. 

 31 



curving, it went on straight from the first, we should 

 then have a straight shell, in all important respects 

 the same, but having the same relation with the 

 Orthoceratite that the Crioceratite has to the Spirula. 

 Such a shell is called a Baculite* (105). p^. 105 



And, lastly, if our ammonite in 

 building its habitation were developed 

 so as to exhibit a form like that of most 

 univalve shells, another genus would be 

 formed identical with one common in 

 the chalk, and called Turrilites,^ from 

 the spiral or turreted shape assumed. 



These peculiar forms (and besides 

 those we have described there are 

 many others known) would not seem 

 to require any great difference in the 

 animal either with regard to structure 

 or habit, but they were no doubt ac- 

 companied by well-marked distinctive 

 characters. It is certainly not a little 

 striking, that, at the close of the se- 

 condary period, immediately before the 

 whole race of ammonite-like shells was 

 absolutely destroyed in the European 

 seas, there should have been so sin- 

 gular and almost fantastic a develop- 

 ment of them. They were accompani- 

 ed by belemnites, and probably by many BACULITE - 

 free-swimming soft cephalopods, whose remains are 

 not preserved. 



The fishes of the cretaceous rocks are interesting, 

 although not remarkably different either in form or 



* Baculusy a stick. ) Turris, a tower. 



