Conglomerates, and Marls of Devonshire. 
19 
I have never met with a non-fossiliferous nucleus ; occasionally a 
doubtful specimen has presented itself, but the organic structure has 
been readily displayed by subjecting the nucleus to the action of mu- 
riatic acid, or by having it cut and polished. All the fossils belong 
to the Devonian series, and are either sponges, corals, or shells — 
generally spiral univalves ; — upwards of a dozen such shells have been 
found in a single nucleus. Even when the nucleus is dissolved into 
powder the structure of the sponge or coral, of which it is the frail 
memorial, is sometimes quite evident, but is irrecoverably effaced by 
a touch or even by a gust of wind. Frequently the organic 
stmcture is also preserved on the inner or concave surface of the 
enveloping crust ; it is no rare occurrence to find the latter broken 
and empty, but still to be able to determine by what fossil it had 
been occupied, from characters traced on its inner surface. In most 
cases the outer surface of the crust is destitute of organic traces, 
but specimens are occasionally found in which the structural character 
of the enclosed nucleus is e^ddent on the exterior. 
"WTien the nucleus is partially or wholly detached but not reduced 
to powder, it still appears to be undergoing slow decomposition, the 
destructive process sometimes penetrating quite through it, but more 
frequently reaching to only a short distance below the surface. 
AH the detached nuclei on which I have experimented have been 
either completely decomposed by muriatic acid, or have left only a 
very' small quantity of gi'anular matter. The amount of silex which 
they contain by no means exceeds that found in many ordinary lime- 
stones. Occasionally coral stems passing through the nucleus are 
silicified whilst the remainder is purely calcareous, so that casts of 
the corals are easily obtained by the aid of acids. 
As the sea rapidly encroaches on the Conglomerate shores of 
Torbay, Beekites frequently fall from the cliffs and are covered by 
every tide, consequently they are exposed to the mechanical action of 
the waves and of the pebbles amongst which they have fallen ; such 
specimens, as well as those low enough in the cliff to be operated on 
by the same agents, bear many and evident marks of abrasion ; and, 
in this respect, differ greatly from such as are not thus exposed ; the 
tubercles and rings on the latter being sharp, well-defined, and un- 
scratched ; whilst on the former they are much worn, and occasionally 
almost effaced. 
Beekites are found in every part of the Torbay Conglomerates, but 
they are much more abundant at Livermead Head and Paignton 
harbour than elsewhere in the district. I have given much careful 
attention to the subject for many years, but have never met with a 
Beekite except in the red rocks of Torbay. Mr. W. Vicary informs 
me, however, that some have been found in the Conglomerate at the 
Ness Point at the mouth of the Teign, and also at North Tawton. 
He has called my attention, also, to the fact that the characters of the 
