It is therefore evident that those remarkable fossil forms must have excited the wonder of man ere yet science bent to the task of studying them. The graceful form of the Nautilus, which now enjoys existence in our tropical seas, is familiar to all. A large variety of molluscous animals of the same genera have existed through all time; and their remains found in the fossil state prove them to have been among the earliest inhabitants of the ancient ocean. In nearly all the rocks of a limestone character the remains of Ammonites—the ancient Nautilus—have been found. In the Oolite, the Lias, and the Chalk, varieties of these elegant shells are constantly discovered, and nearly three hundred species have been named. From these we select a few, which will, we think, show that they are well adapted for ornamental purposes.
Fig. 1.
The first we give is the Ammonites Eudesianus ([Fig. 1]), which is found in the inferior Oolite, a variety of the sandstone rocks; the specimen from which our illustration is taken being from the sandstone rocks of Caen, so well known in this country from the great quantity employed in our architectural ornaments. This example is remarkable for the perfection of the spiral lines and the beautiful disposition of the ribs or elevated portions, which serve to strengthen the delicate chambered shell.
The Ammonites cordatus of Sowerby ([Fig. 2]) is distinguished by a spiral of a different order from that of Eudesianus. Its ribs forming graceful waving lines, and terminating in a denticulated edge, give a very symmetrical character to the architecture of this variety.
Fig. 2.