142 
too minute, complicated, and delicate, to have been formed in this 
manner. In consequence of the very perfect state of this specimen, 
some circumstances in the structure of this zoophyte are discovered, 
which are not noticed by either Mr. Walch or by Faujas St. Fond, in 
the specimens which they describe. Whether these amount to specific 
differences, or are merely accidental varieties, cannot, perhaps, be 
ascertained, until other illustrative specimens have been compared 
with these. 
The perpendicular lamellae forming the rays of each star, are closely 
united to each other, by minute and regularly disposed transverse 
processes. Innumerable, intercurrent, circular filaments also spread 
themselves, not only from the top of one of these stars to another, but, 
in a similar manner, pass even through the bodies of several of these 
stars, thus connecting all the stellated columns together. The whole 
of this structure, so different in every respect from the other works of 
madreporean polypes, is sufficiently inexplicable to excuse the various 
conjectures which have been made, whilst endeavouring to discover the 
mode in which this zoophyte originally existed. 
On one part of the surface of this fossil, a substance is placed which, 
at first glance, gives the idea of an enchinite, possessing a rounded 
form and a mammillated surface. But a close examination of this 
body ^ves considerable reason for believing it to be an alcyonium ; 
marks of the stelliform oscula of which still appear on the apices of 
the little mounds, from which it derives its mammillated surface. Several 
smaller bodies of this kind are also observed, rising up on different 
parts of the superior surface. 
Another description of bodies are also observable on other parts of 
this superior surface. These are oblong, arid somewhat approachirig 
to the fusiform ; and from the appearance of delicate traces of stel- 
lated figures, I at first conjectured that these bodies were alcyonia, and 
that these' stellated marks were to be considered as the remains of 
the openings, which are the residences- of the polypi peculiar to these 
