STAR-Stones, in natural hiſtory, a name given to certain extraneous fossil ſtones, in form of ſhort, and commonly ſomewhat crooked, columns, compoſed of ſeveral joints, each reſembling the figure of a radiated ſtar, with a greater or ſmaller number of rays in the different ſpecies: they are uſually found of about an inch in length, and of the thickneſs of a gooſe-quill. Some of them have five angles or rays, and others only four; and in ſome the angles are equi-distant, while in others they are irregularly ſo: in ſome alſo they are ſhort and blunt, while in others they are long, narrow, and pointed; and ſome have their angles very ſhort and obtuſe. The ſeveral joints in the ſame ſpecimen are uſually all of the ſame thickneſs; this, however, is not always the caſe; but in ſome they are larger at one end, and in others at the middle, than in any other part of the body; and ſome ſpecies have one of the rays bifid, ſo as to emulate the appearance of a fix-rayed kind.