ORYCTOLOGY. 
are very different in their appearance from 
those which are known in a recent state. 
The one most known in these islands is the 
lithostrotion, sive basaltes striatus et stel- 
latns, of Llwyd. The exact union of the 
sides of tlie polygons giving a tolerably 
correct idea of minute basaltes. The 
compound Madrepores, the stelliform part 
of which are extended in undulating la- 
byrinthean forms, appear to be much less 
numerous as fossils tiian any of the other 
corals: their existence in a silicious state 
very rarely occurs. 
The Milleporae do not appear to be 
nearly so frequently found in a mineral as 
in a recent state. Several fossils have been 
placed among the Millepores which un- 
doubtedly should rank with the Madre- 
pores: such are the Millepora simplex tur- 
binata, and the Millepora simplex discoides, 
of Waller and Gesner ; a careful examina- 
tion shewing, that these differ from the por- 
pital and turbinated Madrepores, only in 
their being formed of numerous tubes, pos- 
sessing an internal stellated structure. 
Of the genus Isis one species only appears 
to be known as a’ fossil. This species was 
first described by Scilla, who at first con- 
jectured it to be the leg-bone of some ani- 
mal. Specimens are frequently found in the 
Calabrian mountains, and have lately been 
also found in some parts of Wiltshire. Of 
the genus Cellepora, Antipathes, and Gor- 
gonia, fossil specimens appear to be rather 
uncommon. 
The Corallo Fungitse of Waller are evi- 
dently the fossil remains of Alcyonia. These 
have been long described by Volkmann, 
ScheHchzer, and others, as fossil fruits, and 
have obtained, from their resemblance to 
figs, &c. the appellations of ficoides, cari- 
coides, &c.; whilst others of a different 
form have been named lycoperdit®, fun- 
gitse pilcati, &c. A fossil Alcyonium has 
even been described by Volkmann and 
Scheuchzer as a fossil nutmeg. A fossil 
Alcyonium of a conical form is represented 
Plate I. fig. 6. 
The Encrini and Pentacrini have been 
always, and very properly, considered as 
the most curious of the fossil Zoophytes. 
The Encrinns (Plate I. fig. 3) possesses the 
distinguishing character of having its spine, 
or, as it has been generally called, its tail, 
composed of cylindrical or orbicular verte- 
brae, pierced through their centre, and 
marked with diverging stri® on their arti- 
culating surfaces. On the superior termi- 
nation of these is placed the base of the 
body of the animal, formed of five trape- 
zoidal bodies, termed by Rosinus articuli 
trapezoides, which inclose five small bodies, 
which form the centre of the base ; the 
whole of these forming that which Rosinus 
denominated the pentagonal base. From 
each of these proceed six other bodies, on 
the two last of each series of which are placed 
the arms of the animal, which divide into fin- 
gers ; from the internal surface of these pro- 
ceed almost innumerable articulated tenta- 
cula. This fossil has long possessed the 
name of the Encrinus, or stone lily ; its re- 
semblance to that flower having led to the 
suspicion that it Vvas a petrifaction of a 
flower, approximating in its form to the 
lily : its animal origin is however now com- 
pletely ascertained. Indeed, if a doubt 
had remained, it would have been removed 
by the circumstance of the animal mem- 
brane, or cartilage, having been actually 
discovered in the fossil, (“ Organic Re- 
mains of a former World,” vol. ii. p. 166.) 
Several other species of this animal are also 
described in the work just referred to ; but 
hitherto no recent animal has been found 
which can be referred to this genus. 
The fossil Pentacrinus differs from the 
Encrinus, in its vertebrae being of a penta- 
gonal form, and in its arras, fingers, and 
tentacula being capable of being much more 
widely spread and extended tlian are those 
of the Encrinus. It appears from Mr. Par- 
kinson’s account, that there are several 
species of this fossil, the existence of some 
recent species of which have been also as- 
certained. 
The encrinital vertebr® (Plate I. fig. 7 a) 
have been hitherto termed trochit® when 
separate, and entrochi when connected in a 
series,. (Plate I. fig. 7.) The single verte- 
br® of the Pentacrinus have been distin- 
guished as asteri®, (Plate I. fig. 8 a) ; and 
when united together they have been term- 
ed columnar asteri®, (Plate I. fig. 8.) 
Of the Asteri®, or Stell® Mariti®, some 
very few specimens have been found fossil ; 
but they occur very rarely, and have, in ge- 
neral, been found in a condition too imper- 
fect to allow of any positive opinion being 
formed, respecting the species to which they 
belong. 
The fossil Echini are very numerous, up- 
wards of forty species, known only as fos- 
sils, being enumerated by the illustrious 
Linnsus; to delineate, therefore, even those 
most deserving of notice could not be here 
w'ell accomplished i a circumstance, how- 
ever, which is not so much to be regretted. 
