THE GEOLOGIST. 



MAY 1862. 



WHAT AEE THE VENTEICULITES? 



The question wLicli heads this article is uot a uew one. An old 

 one, indeed, it is ; and, common as chalk flints and chalk ventriculites 

 are, it does not show much energy on the part of cretaceous — we do 

 not know how else to single them out — geologists and palaeontolo- 

 gists, that this old question has never yet been answered. 



The only man who has ever worked properly on the subject is Mr. 

 Toulmin Smith, who many years ago laboured hard and well on these 

 curious organisms, and then retired on his laurels. But Mr. Smith, 

 like all men who have devoted themselves to a special subject, is full 

 of prejudices — we do not mean to say errors — and no progress in our 



Fig. 1. — Portion of Flint Nodule, with shells attached to Ventriculite. 



knowledge can be hoped to be made until these prejudices are at- 

 tacked. Mr. Smith, having huilt his castle, is not likely to strengthen 

 it until its walls have been undermined, or at least have been battered 



VOL. V. T 



