C 45 1 
fubjedt, fo (if I may be allowed the comparifon) T 
received farther information by luckily meeting with 
a Belemnite, whofe lamina* were in a manner didedted 
and laid open by the vague acid, or fome other cor- 
roding mendruum, which every where pervades the 
earth, deftroying fome bodies [0], and forming 
others [/>]. The lamina: of this truly wonderful 
body are here expofed to view [y], and plainly fhew 
us, that nature, in this, as in all her works, purfues 
the moft fimple, eafy, and fhorted methods, though 
they appear ever fo intricate and interwoven. This 
fpecimen will, I hope, ferve to explain a matter, which 
hath fo long puzzled the curious in natural hidory ; 
and convince us, that there is nothing ..more’ wonder- 
ful in the formation of the Belemnite, than in that 
of a cockle, oyder,, or any other tedaceous fub- 
dance; with this difference only, the oyder 
drengthens its (Hell, and excludes its fird habitation, 
by additional laminae formed withiny the Belemnite 
inclofes its dwelling by adding new laminae without . 
Figure X. reprefents the Belemnite fplit up the 
middle, with the fiphunculusin the front t a, b exhibit 
the fird: formed cell, or feat of the animal ab ovo. As 
theanimal grows larger, it forma afecond cell or cham- 
ber b to c y at the fame time covers the fird cell, by 
forming thoappendage or guard c 3 i, which is the fird 
dageof the Belemnite. In forming the third cell c, d 3 
frelh laminae or coverings are carried, on from d y to k- x , 
and fo of the red, e 3 fy g>h\ or /, m y 72, 0. When we 
have duly confidered the manner, in which the fhellis 
[<?] Al! calcareous fubltances. 
[p\ Such as felenites, pyrites, marcafites, ta’Jc,. gyp- 
fum, tic. 
[?J. Fig, 9, 
thus* 
