COMATULA. 



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recent periods that we find the free Crinoids, corresponding to 

 the Comatula. 



Comatula. (Alecto meridionalis AG.) 



One large species of Comatula (Alecto Eschrichtii M. & T.) 

 is known on our coast, off the shores of Greenland, where it 

 has been dredged at a depth of about one hundred and fifty 

 fathoms, and young specimens of the same species have 

 been found as far south as Eastport, Maine. The species 

 selected for representation here, however, (Fig. 153,) is one 

 quite abundant along the shores of South Carolina. It is intro- 

 duced instead of the northern one, because the latter is so rare 

 that it is not likely to fall into the hands of our readers. The 

 annexed drawing (Fig. 154, magnified from Fig. 153) repre- 

 sents a group of the young of the Charleston Comatula, still at- 

 tached to the parent body by their stems, and in various stages of 



16 



Fig. 152. Fossil Pentacrinus. 



