513 



less from the Canadian rock, they could not be separated from it, as 

 regards their general characters.* 



Supported by so many examples, as well as those described in 

 our former Paper, we shall be much deceived if all ophites do not con- 

 tain some feature or other of the genus " Eozoon and as such rocks are 

 common, and belong to crystalline masses of all geological ages, believers 

 in this " organism" may felicitate themselves on the prospect of esta- 

 blishing lots of new species, or " varieties." 



Regardless of the complete evidence that we adduced, proving the 

 Connemara ophite to be essentially " eozoonal," Dr. Carpenter has 

 lately decided, even contrary to his previous identifications, that " the 

 evidence of its organic origin rests on its partial analogy to the eozoonal 

 rock of Canada. It is, therefore, upon the character of the serpen- 

 tine limestone of Canada, not upon the nature of the Connemara marble, 

 that the question of organic origin entirely turns."f 



This is precisely one of the terms to which we intend to adhere in 

 discussing the question. While examining the various structures of 

 " Eozoon Canadense" we shall test them as displayed in one of two spe- 

 cimens obligingly presented to us by Dr. Carpenter himself : at the same 

 time we purpose giving additional illustrations from extra-Canadian spe- 

 cimens when necessary. 



2. F or amini feral Considerations. 



It is stated that "Eozoon Canadense" consists of " chamber casts" 

 in serpentine or other minerals, connected by narrow neck- like divisions 

 or u stolons" — invested with an " asbestiform" or a " nummuline cell 

 wall" — and enclosed in a calcareous " intermediate skeleton," penetrated 

 by a number of dendritic and other forms representing the " canal 

 system." The object of our previous Paper was to show that these 

 several features are merely mineral products. 



It is now admitted, but not until after the publication of our view, 

 that in " highly crystalline rocks" (of which "eozoonal" ophite is 

 undoubtedly an example), ' ' organic remains may be simulated by mere 

 mineral appearances" (Dawson) — that the features of the presumed or- 

 ganism can be "separately paralleled elsewhere" (Carpenter), i.e., in 

 others besides ophitic rocks : we, however, it is alleged, have, " through 

 defective observation, failed to distinguish between organic and crystal- 

 line forms."! 



* We have also seen specimens in the Jardin des Plantes and the Exposition Uni- 

 verselle, which, on proper examination, we have little doubt will prove to belong to the 

 same category. We observed in the former Institution a specimen, marked " 8N, 2965" 

 (the name of its locality could not be made out) : another beside it, from Corsica ; and 

 two, " 2931," from Tuscany. The Prussian section of the Exhibition, Class 40 20, 

 contained an acervuline specimen, numbered "850." 



f " Proceedings of the Royal Society,**~vot. xv., p. 506. 



% " Quarterly Journal of Geological Society," vol. xxiii., p. 261. 



