ASTERIA is also the name of an extraneous fossil, called in English the star-stone. These fossils are small, short, angular or falcated columns, between one and two inches long, and seldom above a third of an inch in diameter: composed of several regular joints; when separated, each resembles a radiated star. They are, not without reason, supposed to be a part of some sea-fish putrified, probably the asterias, or sea-star *. The
asteria is also called astrites, astroites, and asteriscus. They may be reduced to two kinds; those whose whole bodies make the form of a star; and those which in the whole are irregular, but are adorned as it were with constellations in the parts. Dr Litter, for distinction's sake, only gives the name asteria to the former sort, distinguishing the latter by the appellation of astroites; other naturalists generally use the two indiscriminately. The asteria spoken of by the ancients appears to be of this latter kind. The quality of moving in vinegar, as if animated, is scarce perceivable in the astroites, but is signal in the asteria. The former must be broken in small pieces before it will move; but the latter will move, not only in a whole joint, but in two or three knit together. The curious frequently meet with these stones in many parts of England: at Clevedon in Oxfordshire they are found rather larger than common, but of a softer substance; for, on being left a small space of time in a strong acid, they may easily be separated at the joints in small plates.