22 



strangely fashioned as themselves. In the primeval rocks of Europe, 

 Asia, America, and Africa, they rest to be disinterred by chance or 

 purpose, to be rolled down the mountain's side by the winter's storm, 

 or to be upturned by the pickaxe of the workman. 



All these — the Cephalopoda — clothed in a shelly case, came forth 

 abundantly when man was not. Man arose, events were changed, 

 and the Ammonitidse and the Nautilitidge, some time chief citizens 

 before the advent of the human race, dwindled down in numbers, 

 and became almost extinct, to be exhibited at last as rarities (the 

 medals of creation) in the cabinets of the curious ; and to be 

 classified, and finally arranged in learned books, from the stand- 

 point of the Geologist. 



Thus I bring to a close this very rude and imperfect sketch of the 

 chief groups of the Cephalopoda 1 only hoping, that if out of the 

 storehouse at my command, I have set forth some things new and 

 old, the new may serve the members of our Association, as germs for 

 future papers, the old for profit and reflection. 



1 The following books amongst others illustrate the subject : — D' Orbigny. Paleon- 

 tologie Franchise, Ter. Cret., vol. i., Paris, 1840. — Pictet. Traite de Paleontologie, 

 vol. ii., pp. 309-387, Paris, 1845. — Edwards. Eocene Mollusca (Palseont. Soc), pp. 

 1-56, London, 1849.— Quenstedt. Cephalopoden, Tubingen, 1849. — Woodward. 

 Manual of the Mollusca, pp. 62-97, London, 1853. — Sharpe. Chalk Mollusca 

 (Palaeont. Soc.) London, 1853.— Chenu. Manuel de Conchyliologie, pp. 3-102, 

 Paris, 1859.— D'Eichwald. Lethsea Rossica, vol. i., pp. 1189-1327, Stuttgart, 1860. 

 — Huxley. Mem. Geol. Survey, Monog. ii., London, 1864. — Phillips. Belemnitidae 

 (Palseont. Soc), London, 1865-69. — Barrande. Systeme Silurien, vol. ii. Prague, 

 1865-68. 



