SNAKESTONES. 



145 



G. C. CRICK, F.G.S., etc., 



(British Museum, Natural History). 



With reference to the editorial note in ' The XaturaUst ' tor 

 last month abont ' Snakestones,' it may be interesting to 

 recall the fact that so far back as 1815 James Sowerby figured 

 in the ' Mineral Conchology ' (Vol. II., part ig, p. 10, pi. 107, 

 f. 2). an example of the common Whitby Ammonite [Ammonites 

 communis^Dactylioceras commune) that had been furnished 

 with a ' head.' In the remarks appended to his description of 

 this species he states : — ' The Ammonites are called in common 

 Snake-stones, and superstition has accounted for their having 

 been found constantly without heads, saying, the curse of St. 



Fig . I . 



Fig. 2. 



Fig. I. — The Whitby Ammonite [Dactylioceras commuue) , with carved 

 head, figured by James Sowerby in 1815 (Min. Conch., Vol. II., part 19, 

 pi. 107, fig. 2). British Museum collection, No. 43895a. Natural size. 



Fig. 2. — A Whitby Ammonite {Dactylioceras commune), with car\ed 

 head, in the British Museum collection. No. 37927. Natural size. 



Cuthbert was the cause of it ; but as some of the dealers felt 

 it a possible inconvenience, they were determined to be less 

 barbarous, and compassionately supplied some with heads. 

 I was so curious as to desire to see what sort of heads might be 

 substituted, and Lady Wilson kindly procured me a specimen 

 when at Whitby. I have figured that specimen for the 

 information of others ; see fig. 2.' 



This fossil (Fig. i) is now in the British Museum collection 

 1910 .\pi. I. 



