CONCIIOLOGY. 



a fossil from Grignon, resembles very much (he Cypraea 

 Costata of Gmelin, vol. 5, 3413. The Oliva Triatula of 

 Guielin has some resemblance to the Oliva Canalifera of 

 the Grignon fossils. The Purpura Lapillus of Courtagnon 

 is no other than the very same shell as the Buccinum 

 Lapillus of Linnaeus, a native of the English coast. The 

 Septa Rubecula, of Mr. Perry's Work on Conchology, 

 is also supposed to be the same shell which is found in 

 a fossil state in several museums. We know also one 

 species of Cyprasa found recent on the English coast, the 

 Cypraaa Pediculus of Pennant, this is suspected to be the 

 same which is sometimes found in a fossil state. 



The above remarks are chiefly taken from the writings 

 of Lamarck, &c. In answer to these observations of this 

 celebrated writer, I have only to remark that his instances 

 are very few which he brings of a perfect similarity ex- 

 isting between the fossil and recent shells. It may also 

 be added that upon an actual examination, many of those 

 which he seems too hastily to have judged to be similar 

 are found to be essentially and specifically different in 

 form. It is therefore more rational perhaps to conclude 

 that there are no fossil shells at all similar to (he recent 

 ones, in the specific character, though there may be some 

 general resemblance, to the eye of the spectator, who is 

 not precisely critical in the observation of such objects. 



Mr. Sowerby has, observed, very justly, that the 

 fossil Nautilus, found at Brentford, differs very materially 

 from the recent Nautilus Pompilius of Linnaeus, and from 

 all others yet known in a recent state; and no doubt similar 

 distinctions exist in the others. 



The Polypi, Madrepores, Marine Plants, and Oceanic 

 Shells, attest to our senses and judgment very obviously, the 

 revolutions wbidi the surface of the earth has undergone ira 



