7 
derived their origin from the viscosity of the earth ; nor, with Wood- 
ward, that the corals, &c. being brought into a state of solution, at 
the time of the Deluge, their particles, after some time, uniting and 
combining into masses, composed the nodules of coral, &c. which are 
now found deposited in the bowels of the earth. 
The existence in subterranean situations of the ramose, and other 
corals, which bore an exact resemblance to those which were known 
to be the inhabitants of the ocean, was, however, long attempted to 
be accounted for, by suppositions approaching no nearer to proba- 
bility than these. Count Moscardi (Not. Overo Museo de Conte de 
Lod. Moscardo, p. 187.) and Oligerius Jacob^us (Mus. Reg. p. 3.) 
were, however, led by the appearance of some of the fossil alcyonia, 
to suppose that they had actually undergone a change, and were real 
petrifactions. But they still were totally ignorant of the real origin 
of these substances ; and, misled by their forms, they believed them 
to be different species of terrestrial fungi. 
The learned Buttner, in the year 1714, removed every doubt re- 
specting the origin of these bodies, and rendered it manifest, that all 
fossil corals had primarily been the inhabitants of the ocean. This 
opinion was opposed, indeed, by our countryman Woodward, but 
with arguments too futile to require notice ; it therefore was generally 
accepted, and the kimwledge of the real nature of fossil corals was 
established. 
I 
