THE MEDALS OF CREATION. 137 



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interesting question of the relation between Sigillaria and Stig- 

 maria, and the nature of the trees so called, several figures are 

 given, and, amongst the rest, one in which roots, which are true 

 Stigmaria, are seen attached to the trunk of a Sigillaria recently 

 discovered (in 1843) near Liverpool, and the well-known paper of 

 Mr. Brongniart, in the Archives du Museum, is quoted in support 

 of the opinion previously entertained of the identity of the two 

 genera. At the close of this chapter are some accounts of the 

 occurrence of fossil flowers in the Monte Bolca tertiary limestone, 

 and elsewhere, and fossil fruits and leaves of dicotyledonous trees 

 in secondary and tertiary strata. 



The second part of Dr. Mantell's work is devoted to the con- 

 sideration of the fossil remains of animals, considered under dif- 

 ferent sections, namely, 1. Infusoria. 2. Zoophytes. 3. Echino- 



DERMATA. 4. MOLLUSCA. 5. ARTICULATA. 6. FlSHES. 7. REP- 

 TILES. 8. Birds. 9. Mammalia. 



Under the first head are included the Infusorial animalcules, 

 which have of late years been the object of careful examination by 

 Ehrenberg and many English microscopists, and the Foraminifera, 

 the species of the latter group found in the Cretaceous rocks, 

 being those most recently brought under examination, are chiefly 

 alluded to. Among the next group, the Zoophytes, the remains 

 of sponges and spongiform bodies so universal in flint are described 

 and illustrated, and an account is given of some of the more re- 

 markable corals in each of the different geological formations. 



The fossil remains of Echinodermata are described at consider- 

 able length, the various Crinoidece being alluded to, and figures 

 given of those parts most commonly found fossil. In alluding to 

 the elegant little Eugeniacrinite or clove encrinite, the author has 

 not adverted to the actual structure and probable appearance of the 

 animal, a very good idea of which may be deduced from the spe- 

 cimens found abundantly in several of the continental oolites (of 

 the middle period), exhibiting an appearance very different from 

 that of the Lily Encrinite. Several extremely perfect specimens 

 of fossil star-fish (Goniaster^, from the chalk are figured in this 

 part of the work. 



The chapter on the Mollusca contains much information on this 

 subject likely to be generally useful, and many excellent illustra- 

 tions. In speaking, however, of the Hippurites, Dr. Mantell seems 

 not to be aware that they occur in England, although fragments 

 of them are not extremely uncommon in the lower beds of the 

 upper part of the cretaceous series (G-ault and Upper Greensand), 

 and in the Cambridge Museum there is one specimen from the 

 Gault, remarkably perfect and exceedingly instructive. The chapter 

 concludes with a notice of the remains of the soft parts of mollusca, 

 called by the author Molluskite. 



The Cephalopoda are not considered with the other molluscous 

 animals, but occupy a separate chapter. With regard to the Be- 

 lemnite, Dr. Mantell has figured the suggested restoration of 

 M. d'Orbigny, as well as that which subsequent observation has 



