143 
bodies. This opinion, however, was set aside, by a more accurate ex- 
amination with a lens : it then appearing probable, that these stellular 
marks had resulted from the adhesion of some of the bases of the stel- 
lated columns already described. This opinion was, indeed, almost 
proved to be correct, by discovering that one of the columnar stel- 
lated bodies, which have been described as proceeding from the gene- 
ral surface of the fossil, has been so far lengthened, as to be attached, by 
its other extremity to the inferior surface of one of these oblong bo- 
dies ; whilst, in another part, a fragment of one of these stellated co- 
lumns is seen hanging from this same surface, the other end by which 
it was connected with the general surface, having been broken away. 
What was the original nature of these bodies is exceedingly diffi- 
cult to determine. At the first glance they excite the idea of simila- 
rity with the tophaceous coverings of mytuli, which are sometimes 
found in the neighbourhood of Bath. Faujas St. Fond, indeed, de- 
scribes a fossil, Planche XXXVI. Fig. 3, which, though much larger 
than the body here described, has the same oblong spindle-like form, 
being gradually contracted towards its base, where it again gently 
swells out, beai’ing some resemblance to a large spine of an echinus. 
The fracture at the base of the fossil described by Faujas St. Fond, 
decidedly demonstrates that its whole body has been formed by the 
madreporean polype, whose labours have also adorned its surface with 
.stars elegantly formed, and somewhat resembling the petals of a 
flower. This fossil is considered, by its ingenious describer, as one of 
the most singular productions of the whole genus. The fossil body, 
which is described by Faujas St. Fond, does not, however, exactly 
agree with that which is discovered on the fossil now under our exa- 
mination ; since, in the latter body, there do not appear any traces 
of polypean labours, to which its formation can be attributed. 
To my worthy and respected fellow-labourer. Dr. Menish, of Chelms- 
ford, I am obliged for the opportunity of having the engraving made, 
Plate XII. Fig. 1, from a specimen in his collection. This fossil, which is 
