lO 
BEEKITE. 
From the list of subscribers to the “ Natural History of the 
Crinoidea,” by J. S. Miller, published in Bristol in 1821, it appears 
H. de la Beche was then residing in Clifton, the Rev. J. C. 
Conybeare, at Batheaston, the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, at Brisling- 
ton, with Dean Buckland and Professor Sedgwick as frequent or 
occasional visitors ; while W. Lonsdale was at Bath, and doubtless 
took part in many of their excursions. It is evident, therefore, 
that the men with whom Dr. Beeke mixed were of no mean status 
in the geological world. 
The statement that Dr. Beeke was the first to call attention to 
this mineral is not strictly correct, for one of our members (Mr. 
Upfield Green) has unearthed several extracts showing that certain 
Continental geologists had speculated about it as far back as 1751. 
Walch, of Jena,* describes and figures certain fossils which are 
undoubtedly Beekised, “one is a sponge from the ‘ Birse ’ near 
Basle, the whole surface of which is covered with knobs, or 
delicate discs enclosed in curved, sometimes spiral lines. So much 
is certain these do not belong to ‘ Fungiten ’ structure as they are 
found also on other fossils as Terebratula, Belemnites, &c. Some 
consider them to be Ostracites or Vermiculites — see Gueltard, Memb. 
of I’academie Royal des Sciences, Paris, 1751 — also D. Hofmann, 
Actis Acad. Mogunt. (Mayence). He describes them as “ Vermi- 
culos orbicularis pianos constantes, ex quatuor vel pluribus spiris 
sive circulis concentrices.” 
Probst Geuzmer, of Stargard, says in a letter to him, dated 
6 July, 1769 — “I believe them to be a hardened secretion of the 
organism in which they occur, as if they were vermicular they 
would increase not only in size and length, but in width, and 
would have to form “ lineam spiralium ” and not “ circulos con- 
centrices in semel ipsos revertantes.” They are also formed 
between the Tunicis and Lamellis of which the shell of oysters 
and other shells consist. This could not be the case if they were 
owing to the adhesion of an outside worm, as the Tunica and 
Lamellae are formed from inside and therefore they must be formed 
by a secretion during the building up of the shell itself. Professor 
Annone says of one of them, “ This is a most perfect and delicate 
coralline sponge, shaped like a conical hat, the surface of which 
is covered with countless small discs similar to those on No. 2. 
Another writer considers the markings to be the roots of abraded 
spines, especially when found on Gryphites (or Productus ?).” 
These remarks and speculations of the older geologists are 
interesting, but beyond showing that it had been noticed at the 
dates given, do not throw much light on the subject. One im- 
portant omission characterizes their writings, and that is no one 
seems to have noticed the fact that all these rings were silica. 
Natural History of Petrifactions, Nurnberg, 1769. 
