rays. Finally, the 'pinnules' are the lateral divisions of the digitations; and De Blainville, like Miller, divides the rays into principal rays and accessory or auxiliary rays.*

Dr. Buckland (Bridgewater Treatise'), who uses the phraseology of Miller, speaks of these animals as destined to find their nourishment by spreading their nets and moving their bodies through a limited space, from a fixed position at the bottom of the sea; or by employing the same instruments, either when floating singly through the water, or attached, like Pentelasmis [CIRRIPEDIA], to floating pieces of wood. He refers to Miller for several instances of their power of repairing casual injuries, and figures a recent Pentacrinus, one of whose arms is under the process of being reproduced, as crabs and lobsters reproduce their lost claws and legs, and many lizards their tails and feet, observing that the arms of star-fishes also, when broken off, are in the same manner reproduced. [ECHINODERMATA.] The same author remarks, that although the representatives of the Crinoideans in our modern seas are of rare occurrence, this family was of vast numerical importance among the earliest inhabitants of the ancient deep. "We may judge," says Dr. Buckland, "of the degree to which the individuals of these species multiplied among the first inhabitants of the sea, from the countless myriads of their petrified remains which fill so many limestone beds of the transition formations, and compose vast strata of entrochal marble, extending over large tracts of country in Northern Europe and North America. The substance of this marble is often almost as entirely made up of the petrified bones of Encrinites as a corn-rick is composed of straws. Man applies it to construct his palace and adorn his sepulchre; but there are few who know, and fewer still who duly appreciate, the surprising fact, that much of this marble is composed of the skeletons of millions of organised beings, once endowed with life, and susceptible of enjoyment, which, after performing the part that was for a while assigned to them in living nature, have contributed their remains towards the composition of the mountain masses of the earth. Of more than thirty species of Crinoideans that prevailed to such enormous extent in the transition period, nearly all became extinct before the deposition of the lias, and only one presents the angular column of the Pentacrinite: with this one exception, pentangular columns first began to abound among the Crinoideans at the commencement of the lias, and have from thence extended onwards into our present seas. Their several species and even genera are also limited in their extent; for example, the great Lily Encrinite (E. moniliformis) is peculiar to the Muschel-Kalk, and the Pear-Encrinite to the middle region of the Oolitic Formation."

The same author, speaking of the joints which composed the stem, says, "The name of Entrochi, or Wheelstones, has with much propriety been applied to these insulated vertebræ. The perforations in the centre of these joints affording a facility for stringing them as beads, has caused them in ancient times to be used as rosaries. In the northern parts of England they still retain the appellation of 'Saint Cuthbert's beads.'

On a rock by Lindisfarn

Saint Cuthbert sits, and toils to frame

The sea-born beads that bear his name.

"Each of these presents a similar series of articulations, varying as we ascend upwards through the body of the animal, every joint being exactly adjusted to give the requisite amount of flexibility and strength. From one extremity of the vertebral column to the other, and throughout the hands and fingers, the surface of each bone articulates with that adjacent to it, with the most perfect regularity and nicety of adjustment. So exact and methodical is this arrangement, even to the extremity of its minutest tentacula, that it is just as improbable that the metals which compose the wheels of a chronometer should for themselves have calculated and arranged the form and number of the teeth of each respective wheel, and that these wheels should have placed themselves in the precise position fitted to attain the end resulting from the combined action of them all, as for the successive hundreds and thousands of little bones that compose an Encrinite to have arranged themselves in a position subordinate to the end produced by the combined effect of their united mechanism, each acting its peculiar part in harmonious subordination to the rest; and all conjointly producing a result which no single series of them acting separately could possibly have effected." ('Bridgewater Treatise.')

De Blainville characterises his Fixed Asterencrinideans (Astérencrinides Fixés) as having a body more or less bursiform, supported upon a long articulated stem, and fixed by a radiciform part.

Genus, Apiocrinites.-Miller, who established this genus, characterises it as an animal with a column gradually enlarging at the apex, composed of numerous joints, of which the superior is marked by five diverging ridges, dividing the surface into as many equal portions, sustaining the pelvis, formed of five sub-cuneiform joints, supporting * It is necessary to put the student on his guard against the confusion and error manifest in this part of De Blainville's useful work. This was not a little puzzling when considered as coming from a pen of such high reputation as his; till the arrival of the 'Nouvelles Additions et Corrections' brought the information that "par une transposition singulière du manuscrit, il y a eu une sorte de mélange entre les paragraphes qui appartiennent aux genres Encrinus et Pentacrinus." In short, among other mistakes, the titles Encrinus and Pentacrinus, together with hole paragraphs, have been misplaced.

Bradford Pear-Encrinite (Apiocrinites rotundus), restored and reduced. 1, expanded; 2, closed; a, the remedial effect of calcareous secretions in repairing an injury of the joints of the stem: two young individuals, and the surfaces of two truncated stems appear at the base; 3, pear-shaped body of Apiocrinites rotundus, showing at its upper extremity the internal disposition. of the bones surrounding the cavity of the stomach; 4, vertical section of the body, showing the cavity of the stomach, and a series of lower cavities, or hollow lenticular spaces, between the central portions of the enlarged joints of the upper portion of the vertebral column. These spaces are considered by Miller as enlargements of the alimentary canal, which descends through the axis of the entire column. The surfaces of the joints of the vertebral column are striated with rays on the adjacent plates, and allow of flexure without risk of dislocation. (Buckland.)

Lias.

little elevated, pierced by a round hole, and radiated at their surface. Auxiliary rays scattered. This genus has occurred hitherto in a fossil state only, and has alone been found in strata posterior to the A. rotundus, Round-Columned, Pear-like, Lily-shaped Animal (Miller). It appears to be the Astiopoda elegans (stem) of Defrance. It is the Bradford Pear-Encrinite of Parkinson, and is described by Miller as a crinoidal animal, with a round column, composed of joints adhering by radiating surfaces, of which from 10 to 14 gradually enlarge at its apex, sustaining the pelvis, costa, and scapulæ, from which the arms and tentaculated fingers proceed. Base formed by exuding calcareous matter, which indurates in lamina, and permanently attaches the animal to extraneous bodies.

It occurs in the middle region of the Oolite at Bradford in Wiltshire, Abbotsbury, near Weymouth, Dorsetshire, Soissons, Rochelle, &c.

Miller describes and figures a second species, Apiocrinites ellipticus (Bottle-Encrinite, Strait-Encrinite, and Stag-Horn Encrinite of Parkinson; Goldfuss refers to it as A. elongatus), and gives the Chalk-Pits of Wiltshire and Kent as its localities. The bodies, &c. of this species are the Chalk-Bottles of the quarrymen.

Miller's E. moniliformis is probably the E. liliiformis of Lamarck, the Encrine and Lys de Mer of the French, the Lilium lapideum of some of the older writers, and the Stone Lily of the English. It is found in the Muschel-Kalk, Hildesheim, Rakenberg near Goslar, Obernscheden and Azzenhausen, not far from Gemenden, in Lower Saxony; Scwerven in Juliers, in Westphalia; the village of Erkerode in Brunswick, about two miles from the town bearing this name, near a wood called the Elm, &c. In this last-named locality the quarry is on the declivity of a hill overgrown with wood, on which account the inhabitants oppose the digging after them. The stratum containing them is hardly fifteen

Lily-Shaped Encrinite (Encrinus liliiformis).

to eighteen inches in thickness. Under the surface of the earth is a friable, porous, argillaceous limestone, containing millions of columns and columnar joints; but many hours' digging is necessary before a good specimen of the superior part, or stone-lily, can be procured since the moisture in the stone contributes to their rapid destruction, and their occurring on large pieces of stone makes them liable to separation, which accounts for the many mended specimens. Another and harder stratum under the above contains numerous crinoidal remains; but, according to the quarrymen, no stone-lilies. (Miller.) The author last quoted adds that there is good reason to believe that the formation in which the remains are found near Brunswick corresponds with the White Lias of England, as it appears to repose on the newer Red-Sandstone containing salt and gypsum.

Fine specimens of this fossil have always been and still are sought for with great eagerness by collectors. In the 'Beyträge zur Naturgeschichte,' Altenburg, 1774, it is stated that the Emperor of Germany offered 100 dollars for a stone-lily free from the matrix, and attached to its column.

"The peculiarly fine lily encrinite," writes Miller, "figured by Knorr, tab. 11, a, was, it is said, purchased (Naturforscher,' Stück 3) from the labourers at the limestone quarry at Schrapland, near Halle, by Inspector Wilkens, for thirty-two groschen, and given to Professor Lange, who sold it to Baron Niegart. However in the same publication (Stück 6), it is stated that it was not bought by Wilkens, but by Mr. Vitigo, at Farrenstadt, near Querfurt, for two dollars, and given to Lange, who sold it for three louis d'or. If my memory does not misgive me, I think I saw the specimen about twenty years ago in the collection of the Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, at Danzig. Where is it now?"

Pentacrinus (Pentacrinites vel Pentacrinus, Five-Angled Lilyshaped Animal, Miller; Pentagonites Rafinesque).-The following is the generic character as given by Miller:-An animal with a column formed of numerous pentangular joints, articulating by surfaces with pentapetalous semistriated markings. Superior columnar joint supporting a pelvis of five joints, on which five first costals rest, succeeded by five second costals and five scapulæ, from which ten arms proceed, having each two hands, composed of several tentaculated fingers. Column long, having numerous auxiliary side. Base not ascertained.

arms.

* Recent Species.

P. Caput-Medusæ is a crinoidal animal having a column formed of numerous pentangular joints, articulating by surfaces with pentapetalous ovate striated markings; five auxiliary side-arms formed of round joints proceeding from the column at intervals. Superior columnar joints supporting a pelvis of five plates, to which the first costals, second costals, and scapulæ succeed, from which ten arms proceed, each supporting two hands, subdividing into three fingers. Lower extremity, or base, unknown. (Miller.)

It is the Encrinus Caput-Medusa of Lamarck; Isis Asteria of Linnæus. It inhabits the seas of the Antilles, and has been taken near the island of Barbadoes (Dr. Hunter's specimen), also off Nevis (specimen formerly belonging to James Tobin, Esq., now in the British Museum), and Martinique (specimen in the Paris Museum). There is also a specimen in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, and one in that of the Geological Society of London. Mr. Miller, in speaking of Mr. Tobin's specimen, says, "In the drawing it up from the bottom of the sea, the animal has clearly been broken off, leaving its posterior portion behind; thus we have lost the chance of ascertaining the fact, whether it adhered by a fixed base, or had a locomotive power. The same accident has befallen the other recent individuals that have been mentioned when speaking of the locality of this species. However, judging from its analogy to the Encrinus moniliformis, from its long column, numerous auxiliary side-arms, and the associated manner in which groups of the following species are sometimes found preserved on the surface of a single slab, with the columns all tending towards the same point, as if issuing from a common base, I conceive that this species also adhered by a base to extraneous matter. This idea gains some further ground, from all the recent specimens hitherto found having broken abruptly off in the endeavour to remove them, as not being able to free them selves from the points of adhesion, which certainly would have been the case had the animal possessed a locomotive power." This inference acquires additional confirmation from the observations made by the late J. Tobin, Esq., on another specimen, namely "Some years ago I was in possession of a larger Pentacrinite, which was brought to me so fresh out of the sea that at the bottom (where it plainly appeared to have been broken off from the rock to which it was fixed the blood was actually oozing from the vertebræ. This specimen I endeavoured to preserve, but it was totally destroyed by the ants, who ate every cartilage, so that it fell to pieces." Miller observes upon this, that the 'blood' was the fluid in the alimentary canal, and refusing to admit the assertion of Walch, that the Pentacrinite is an animal crawling along the bottom of the sea, conceives it to have generally stood more or less erect in the sea, yielding to the frry of the storm in bending down, and adhering for additional security with its side-arms to extraneous matter, or closing them to the column, and thus offering the least surface possible to the element. The

partially touch each other. Stem articulated, round, and without accessory rays. Mouth central in the midst of five scales, which are foliaceous and bordered by a row of tentacular cirrhi; a large tubular orifice a little behind the mouth.

P. Europaeus, Pentacrinus Europæus, Thompson. It is now generally admitted that the observations of Mr. J. V. Thompson have proved that this animal is but the young of Comatula. If no other species of Phytocrinus be found, this genus must be cancelled. Poteriocrinites.-A crinoidal animal, with a round column, composed of numerous thin joints, having in their centre a round alimentary canal, and articulating by surfaces striated in radii. Round auxiliary side-arms proceeding at irregular distances from the column. Pelvis formed of five pentagonal plate-like joints, supporting five hexagonal intercostal plate-like joints, and five plate-like scapulæ, having on one of the intercostals an interscapulary plate interposed. An arm proceeding from each of the scapulæ. Base probably fascicular, and permanently adhering. (Miller.)

The author of this generic character says, "It is with considerable hesitation that I describe these five plates as belonging to the pelvis; the analogy of their lower articulating surfaces seems perhaps rather to indicate their belonging to the first costal series. I have never yet had an opportunity of seeing the connection of these plates with the first column or joint fairly developed, and it seems possible that the true pelvis may be small and almost concealed. This doubt will be done away by the acquisition of more instructive specimens, and my thus stating the case must be considered as resulting from an anxious desire to check errors. It is not unlikely that the real joints forming the pelvis are so much abbreviated as not to be visible externally. Every one acquainted with fossils must be aware how difficult it is to trace always organic details in them correctly, and how many specimens are sometimes necessary to ascertain a single fact."

De Blainville observes that this genus does not appear to differ from Apiocrinites, excepting inasmuch as that the stem is not enlarged at its superior part, and that the basilary pieces of the rays are less approximated, and without doubt less immoveable. The details given by Mr. Miller point out a form differing strongly from that of Apiocrinites, and if his data be admitted there can be little doubt of the generic difference which he records.

P. tenuis, Thin, Vase-like, Lily-shaped Animal. A crinoidal animal, with a column formed of numerous round thin joints, surface of articulation radiating and striated. The plate-like joints forming the cup-like body, articulating by minute striæ. One arm proceeding from each scapula, supporting two fingers. It is found in the Mountain Limestone of the Mendip Hills and in the Black Rock, the 14th bed of Dr. Bright's series ('Geol. Trans.,' vol. iv. p. 193), near the river Avon, Bristol, belonging to the same formation. (Miller.)

The other species recorded by Miller is Poteriocrinites crassus, from the Mountain Limestone in Yorkshire, and the Mountain Limestone at Bristol, near the river Avon, bed 1 and 14 of Dr. Bright's paper in 'Trans. of Geol. Soc.,' vol. iv. p. 193, and in the Magnesian beds of the Mountain Limestone, Clevedon Bay, Somersetshire. Miller further states that the specimen mentioned in Dr. Woodward's 'Catalogue of Foreign Fossils' (page 19, 8. 1.) as coming from Syria, is of this species, and that he (Miler) is indebted to the Rev. A. Sedgwick, Woodwardian Professor, Caml ridge, for ascertaining this fact, he having kindly furnished Mr. Miller with a drawing made from the original, now in Dr. Woodward's collection, and under his care.

Platycrinites.--A crinoidal animal, with an elliptic or (in one species) pentagonal coluinn, formed of numerous joints, having a few side-arms at irregular distances. Pelvis saucer-shaped, formed of three unequal pieces, from which five large plate-like scapulæ proceed. Base provided with numerous fibres for attachment. Miller, who thus characterises the genus, observes that the want of costa supplied by the large plate-like scapulæ gives the superior part of these animals a pentagonal appearance, and furnishes so conspicuous a character that they are readily distinguished from all other genera.

P. lavis, Smooth, Broad-Plated, Lily-shaped Animal. A crinoidal animal, with a column formed of very muscular elliptical joints adhering by a transverse ridge. Round side-arms occasionally proceeding from the column, whose joints adhere by radiated surfaces. Pelvis saucer shaped, with the five scapulæ adhering to it, from each of which an arm proceeds supporting two hands, having each two fingers. Pelvis and scapula smooth. Locality in the Mountain Limestone of the Mendip Hills, the Black Rock (14th bed of Dr. Bright's series in 'Geol. Trans.,' vol. iv.) near Bristol; Dublin; Cork. (Miller.)

Miller remarks that he has noticed in the collection of Richard Bright, Esq., of Ham Green, near Bristol, numerous joints, probably appertaining to an animal forming a variety, or a distinct species. They came, he states, from Muirkirk, in Dumfriesshire; and he adds that the scapulæ are shorter in proportion than those of the former species, and that the columnar joints are finely tuberculated.

The same author records the following species:-P. rugosus, from the Mountain Limestone at Caldy Island, on the south coast of Wales, and at the Mendip Hills; P. tuberculatus, from the Mountain Limestone strata; P. granulatus, from the Mountain Limestone of the Mendip Hills; P. striatus, from the Black Rock (14th bed of Dr. Bright's series); and P. pentangularis, from the Mountain Limestone of the Mendip Hills, at Weston-super-Mare, Black Rock near Bristol,

NAT. HIST. DIV. VOL. II.

and at Mitchel-Dean; also occasionally in Transition Limestone of
Dinevawr Park, and Dudley.
Goldfuss names and describes two additional species, namely,
P. depressus and P. ventricosus.

Cyathocrinites.-A crinoidal animal, with a round or pentagonal column, formed of numerous joints, having side-arms proceeding irregularly from it. On the summit adheres a saucer-shaped pelvis of five pieces, on which are placed in successive series five costal plates, five scapulæ, and an intervening plate. From each scapula proceeds one arm, having two hands. Locality, Transition and MountainLimestone strata. (Miller.)

C. planus.-A crinoidal animal, with a round column formed of numerous depressed joints, articulating by radiating surfaces, and perforated by an alimentary canal, pentagonal near the pelvis, which becomes round further from it. From each of the scapula, which rest on the summit of the cup formed by the pelvis and costæ, proceeds an arm supporting two hands, each being provided with two series of fingers. It is found at Clevedon, in the Magnesian beds of the Mountain Limestone; at Wood-Spring, Black Rock (14th bed of Dr. Bright's series), near Bristol. (Miller.)

Miller observes that a specimen had occurred to him where the columnar joints were alternately smaller and larger, but that he was not aware whether it possessed sufficient character to be considered a variety of the former species. The same author records three other species, and Goldfuss has added three more, namely, C. pinnatus, C. geometricus, and C. pentagonus.

Actinocrinites.-A crinoidal animal, with a round column composed of numerous joints, and perforated by a round alimentary canal. At the summit of the column is placed a pelvis formed of three plates, on which five first costals and one irregular costal adhere, which are succeeded by the second costals and intercostals and the scapula, from whence five arms proceed, forming two hands with several tentaculated fingers. Round side-arms proceed at irregular distances from the column, which terminates at the base in a fascicular bundle or root of fibres.

A. triacontadactylus, Thirty-Fingered, Radiated, Lily-shaped Animal (Miller); Rock-Plant (Beaumont); Nave Encrinite (Parkinson). A crinoidal animal with a round column formed of many joints, on whose summit is placed a pelvis of three plates supporting five hexagonal and one pentagonal costal plate, on which the second costals, intercostals, and scapula in series adhere, the latter sending off five arms, having each two hands provided with three fingers. Column sending off at irregular distances auxiliary side-arms, and terminating at the base in a bundle of fibrous elongations resembling roots. It is found in Mountain Limestone at the villages of Broughton and Stokes in Craven, Yorkshire (Lister, 1674), and in the limestone strata of the Mendip Hills (Beaumont), and the Black Rock near Bristol. (Miller.) (See Figure in col. 531.)

Miller describes another species, A. polydactylus, from the Mountain Limestone of the Mendip Hills and Caldy Island. De Blainville observes that among the five (seven) new species which Goldfuss refers to this genus-namely, A. granulatus, A. tesseracontadactylus, A. cingulatus, A. muricatus, A. nodulosus, A. moniliferus, and A. tesseratus— A. tesseracontadactylus appears to De Blainville to offer a new combination of the pieces of the test, and even perhaps of the ten rays of the root, each division being dichotomous.

Melocrinites (Goldfuss).-Column smooth, perforated by a smooth or quinquelobate canal. Auxiliary arms Pelvis composed of four articulations or pieces. Primary and secondary costals five hexagonal, alternately placed (sibi invicem impositi). Intercostals five, hexagonal. Scapulæ five, hexagonal, placed upon the costals. Interscapulars four, in the region of the mouth five. Arms five. Mouth at the side of the vertex.

M. hieroglyphicus, Goldfuss. Melocrinites with the articulations or pieces of the cup or calyx nodulous. Found in Mountain Limestone. Goldfuss records a second species, namely M. lavis.

Rhodocrinites (Miller).-A crinoidal animal, with a round and sometimes slightly pentagonal column, formed of numerous joints perforated by a pentapetalous alimentary canal. The pelvis formed of three pieces supporting five square plates, in the spaces of whose lateral bevelled angles five heptagonal first costals are inserted. From the scapula proceeds an arm supporting two hands. (Miller.)

R. verus, True Rose-like Lily-shaped Animal. Locality, upper bed, No. 1, and one of the lower beds, No. 15, of Dr. Bright's series, distinguishing the Mountain Limestone formation along the river Avon, near Bristol, the Mendip Hills, Mitchel-Dean, the Transition Limestone at Dudley. (Miller.)

Goldfuss adds four species, namely, R. gyratus, R. quinquepartitus, R. canaliculatus, and R. echinatus, the last being Encrinus echinatus of Schlotheim.

Eugeniacrinites (Miller).—Superior columnar joint subpentangular, enlarging above, having the five plates of the pelvis adhering to it by a solid anchylosis. Base, column, joints resting on the pelvis, and fingers, unknown. (Miller.)

E. quinquangularis (Miller); Clove Encrinite of Parkinson; Caryophyllus lapideus, Caryophyllite of Knorr. Found in Switzerland, at Mount Randen (Knorr); also in the canton Zurich and Schaffhausen. (Miller.) Goldfuss records the following additional species, namely

2 M

a. Actinocrinites triacontadactylus (reduced); b, body of the same (natural size). (Miller and Buckland.)

E. caryophyllatus, E. nutans, E. compressus, E. pyriformis. E. monili formis, and E. Hoferi. (Münster.)

Solanocrinites (Goldfuss).-Column very short, pentagonal, perforated by a pentagonal canal, radiato-rugose at the base, depressed or hollowed out at the sides by the glenoid cavities of the auxiliary arms, articulated with the pelvis by slightly prominent rays which are trochitic and coadunate. Pelvis with five articulations. Scapulae, arms (?). Auxiliary arms of the column thick and close-set. (Goldfuss.) S. costatus (Goldfuss), with a turbinated column, 10 or 15-ribbed longitudinally; articulations of the pelvis linear. Silicified. It is found at Würtemberg in Jurassic Limestone. (Goldfuss).

M. Goldfuss describes two other species, S. scorbiculatus (Münster), and S. Jaegeri (calcareous) (Goldfuss), from the Jurassic Limestone. Baireuth.

Caryocrinites (Say).-Pelvis of four plates. Costal plates six. Column not dilated. Alimentary canal round. Articulating surface of the columnar joints radiated. Auxiliary side-arms cylindrical and placed irregularly.

Cornatus. Costals, four pentagonal and two hexagonal. Column inserted into a cavity at the base of the pelvis. Pelvis rather large; two of the plates quadrangular, attenuated to the base, where they

are truncated and a little recurved at the junction with the column; discs, particularly towards the base, granulated, with a distinct elevated interrupted line; two remaining plates pentangular, attenuated to the base where they are truncated and a little recurved at the junction with the column; disc with elevated granules, and with two elevated interrupted lines extending to the terminal angles. Costals, four pentagonal and two hexagonal, all with elevated interrupted lines, radiating from the centre to the angles, with a series of truncated granules on each side and a few granules in the intervening spaces; interscapulars, two hexagonal, situated immediately above the hexagonal costals; scapulars six pentagonal, the upper sides of which are more or less irregular by projecting a little between the scapulæ, all with prominent lines granulated, similar to those of the preceding. Arms six. Capital plates with a heptagonal one in the middle, surrounded by five heptagonal plates and two irregular ones at the mouth. Mouth not prominent, situated on one side of the middle, a little within the line of the arms, closed by small valvular pieces, its inferior side resting on the superior angle of one of the scapulars. Longitudinal diameter from three-quarters to one inch and a half; transverse diameter from seven-tenths to one inch and two-fifths. Mr. Say, who gives this description, records and describes another species with one of the costals hexagonal, namely C. loricatus. It was found by Dr. Bigsby loose in brown clay at the foot of the ravine at Lockport, in which the New York Canal mounts the parallel ridge of Lake Ontario.

Marsupites, Mantell (Marsupiocrinites, De Blainville).-Body regular, oval, bursiform, rounded at the dorsal extremity, truncated and flattened at the other, enveloped in a sort of shell or test composed of great polygonal plates, articulated to each other, one centrodorsal, and three rows superposed, of which the terminal one supports ten simple rays. Mouth in the midst of four squamiform pieces. Stem none. This is De Blainville's character. The following is Miller's :-"An unattached animal with a subglobose body containing the viscera protected by calcareous plates, of which that in the centre at the base is angular, having a series of costal plates resting on it, admitting intercostals at their superior angles, these giving insertion to the scapulæ from which the arms proceed. Space between the scapulæ covered by an integument, protected by numerous small plates.

M. ornatus, Ornamented Purse-like Animal (Miller), Tortoise Encrinite (Parkinson). A purse-like animal, having the central plate at the base of its subglobose body containing the viscera; pentagonal, supporting at its edge five similar costals, which admit at their superior angles five hexagonal intercostals, into the angles of which five scapulæ are inserted sending off the arms. All the plates crnamented by ridges proceeding from the centre, and forming angular markings near the corners. It is found at Offham Chalk Pits, near Lewes; Clayton Chalk-Pits, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex; Preston Chalk-Pits, near Brighton (Mantell); Chalk-Pits of Kent, and Chalk-Pits, near War minster. (Miller.)

Mr. Miller does not admit Marsupites among the Crinoidea, but considers it as the immediate link between that family and Euryale. Pentremites (Say).-Column cylindrical, perforated; segments articulating by radiated surfaces, with cylindrical side-arms at irregular intervals; pelvis of three unequal pieces, two pentagonal and one tetragonal; scapulae large, very profoundly emarginate for the reception of the lips of the radiating ambulacra, obliquely truncated at the extremities on each side for the reception of one side of a subrhomboidal plate or interscapular; ambulacra five, radiating from the summit, and terminating at the tips of the emarginations of the scapula: each with a longitudinal indented line, and numerous transverse striæ which terminate in a marginal series of pores, for the transmission of respiratory tubes; summit with five rounded openings (ovaries) and an angulated central one (mouth and anus). (Say.)

"This singular genus," observes M. Say, "is so remotely allied to any hitherto discovered, that I do not think it can, with propriety, be referred to any family yet instituted. By its columnar support it is related to the family Crinoidea; but the total absence of arms and hands excludes it from that very natural group. The superior termination, in which the ambulacra, the rounded openings, and the central angulated one, are situated, has some affinity to the family Echinidea [ECHINIDE], but the columnar support shows that it cannot be arranged there. Having thus on its inferior portion a resemblance to the Crinoidea, and on its superior surface a decided analogy to the Echinidea, I think it may with propriety form an intermediate family under the following name and characters: Family, Blastoidea. Column composed of numerous articulating segments, supporting at its summit a number of plates, so united as to form a calyciform body containing the viscera; arms none; branchise arranged in ambulacra. In a natural series their bodies constitute the link between the Crinoidea and the Echinidea, on the one hand; whilst, on the other, the former is unquestionably, but not more obviously, connected with the Stelleridiea by the unequivocal intervention of Comatula and Marsu pites. Of all the genera of Crinoidea, it is to Platycrinites that Pentremite seems most closely related."

M. Say describes three species, namely P. globosa, brought from England, and said to have been found in the vicinity of Bath; and P. pyriformis and P. florealis, from Kentucky. He gives, as the