CONCH OLOG Y. 



The specimen is of a brown colour and finely pre- 

 served, and forms one of the most valuable and curious 

 petrifactions of Mr. Bullock's Museum, which has in- 

 duced us to make the drawings of three others which are 

 smaller, in the same collection, with which it is purposed 

 to present our readers in the ensuing IN umber, to shew 

 the various species of this singular natural production. 



Some light has lately been thrown upon the history 

 of these creatures by Mr. Martin, who has discovered 

 by microscopic inspection that the surfaces of the tubercles 

 on the head are reticulated in their appearance, which he 

 supposes to be a proof that they are really the natural 

 eyes. This fact, however, we may be allowed to doubt, 

 since in some of the individual species, six or ten, or 

 even fifty tubercles occur upon the head, which unusual 

 number seem contrary to the laws of nature. We should 

 be very happy to find out that some ingenious naturalist 

 could discover by analogy the uses and characters of the 

 different parts and organs, at present the dissertations of 

 these abtrusive but interesting objects, must rest in the 

 present state till the more fortunate discovery of additional 

 specimens, either in a living or fossil state, which may 

 clear away the difficulties, presenting us with a series of 

 forms, more general and connected in their analogies. In 

 the mean time we may be allowed to express our surprize 

 that such marine animals as these, for such they undoubtedly 

 are, should all have become extinct by means of the flood, 

 and that none should have been preserved in their own 

 element. 



The variety of marine insects found in various parts of 

 the mountains of lime-stone and chalk, attest in the strongest 

 manner the universality of the deluge. The petrified oys- 



