140 
V 
process is essential to this fossil, and that one of them, at least, belongs 
to each of the cylindrical bodies. 
As in the former fossil, so in this, these forms proceeding from the 
wonderful labours of some lost polypean architect, do not appear to 
have extended, in the least degree, lower than the surface : the mass 
of stone being formed, up to the very surface just described, of the 
same calcareous matters, as in the former fossil. 
Mr. Walch considers this fossil as a cast of a tabularia of six 
columns : he, however, observes, that the tubules from which the casts 
have been formed, are not here the same as they are in the petri- 
factions of other countries ; for that, instead of these tubes being 
regularly directed either obliquely upwards, or disposed horizontally, or 
symmetrically placed at a distance from each other, the tubules, or 
rather their casts, seem to owe their situation on the surface of the 
stone to an accidental arrangement. Their form, in Mr. Walch^s 
opinion, shews that they were moulded in striated tubulites, with 
dentated edges, and longitudinal slight depressions.* 
Mons. Faujas St. Fond, speaking of this fossU, which he has 
figured Plate XXXVI. Fig. 7, of his works, remarks that it is ex- 
ceedingly perplexing to attempt to class this fossil in a distinct and 
appropriate place. The extremely minute protuberances on the sur- 
face, which, from their regular disposal, give to it an appearance of 
ermine, he thinks has been, beyond a doubt, the work of polypes ;~f 
but in Faujas St. Fondas description of this fossil, no notice is taken 
of the small lateral processes, which I have described as passing 
between, and connecting the cylindrical projecting bodies, and the 
granulated surface. The specimen, which has been here copied, agrees 
so exactly, in every other respect, with the fossil delineated and 
described by Faujas St. Fond, as not to leave a doubt of their being 
* Recueil des Monuraens, &c. Tome III. P. 162. 
t Histoire Naturelle de la Montagne de St. Pierre, P. 194. 
