3 
From the nature and proportion, therefore, of the constituent parts 
of the coriaceous crust of the animal, and its speedy resolution, by 
which it is prevented from passing through the several changes 
necessary to its mineralization, we may suppose, that the rareness of 
its being found in a petrified state chiefly proceeds. 
The remains of several species of these animals have, however, been 
preserved, and chiefly in chalk and in lime-stone ; and almost all of 
them approximate so nearly to known recent animals, as to allow of 
the considering them as of similar species with those which have 
been described by Linck and other naturalists. 
The recent animals to which the fossil species appear to be 
referable, are : — 
1. Pentagonaster semilunatus ; Linck. de Stellis marinis, Lab. xxm. 
A7 °- 3 7 > XXIV. No. 39 and 45. This fossil has been figured by Schultz, 
Betrachtung der ver steiner ten, Tab. ii. Fig. 6, from Pirna. A chalk 
fossil, from the Kentish chalk-pits, in which a considerable part of this 
lunated star is preserved, is represented Plate I. Fig. 1. M. Walch, in 
Knorr’s work, Recueil des Monumens des Catastrophes, 8fc. gives 
the figure of an impression on a flint, from New Strelitz, of a stellite 
of this species. 
2. Pentagonaster regularis ; Linck. Tab. xm. No. 22. A fossil 
astente of this species, with which I was favoured by H. H. Goodall, 
Esq. of the East India House, is figured Plate I. Fig. 3. This is also 
from the Kentish chalk-pits. 
3. Pentaceros reticulatus, Linck. Tab. xxm. xxiv. No. 36, is found 
ossil, in fragments, at Chassai sur Saone, according to Davila. 
4. Pentaceros lentiginosus, sen, Stella reticulata lentiginosa ■ Linck 
Tab. xli. and xlii. I lately obtained a stellite of this species ’ or verv 
nearly approaching to it, from one of the Essex chalk-pits The 
specimen though large and handsome, and possessing the general 
rm of this animal, would not have given the idea of this particular 
species, perhaps, if the two rows of mamill ffi , or rather bones, had 
