92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



observed by Ure, Miller, etc., will alone be considered, while 

 the facts and observations faithfully detailed by Mr Eofe cannot 

 be dealt with as at all similar or analogous. Probably no 

 observer of Scottish Carboniferous strata has ever seen 

 specimens such as Mr Eofe describes. 



It may seem uncalled for, at this time of day, to offer any 

 detailed observations as to the general character and structure 

 of the Crinoidea; but a few remarks may be sanctioned, in order 

 to secure a basis for entering on the facts about to be offered. 



Crinoids, as seen in the fossil state, consist of a calcareous 

 foot or base, well fused to some fixed foreign body, having no 

 positive defined form, and depending very much, in that respect, 

 on the nature of the body to which it is fixed, and on the 

 age of the animal; but in the majority of instances it is con- 

 structed on the principle of a sand hill or embankment; and 

 where room is awanting further to extend the base when 

 needed, it passes over the edge of the substance, or over to the 

 other side, forming what may be called a brace. This mass of 

 matter has a cavity in its thickest and commonly central part, 

 of inverted conical form (V-like), half as deep as wide, which 

 presents around its inner edge radiating striae, while the deeper 

 sides of the cavity seem smooth, and towards the bottom it 

 becomes expanded, giving space, it may be, for a ligament to 

 fix the extreme end of the column. These calcareous cup-shaped 

 structures are all formed on one principle, and often occur 

 single; but in many instances several ai'e clustered together, 

 some of which are still occupied with the terminal joint of the 

 column. In one instance, as many as eighteen of these cups 

 had been formed on a strong piece of shell not exceeding an 

 inch square, six of which are occupied with the terminal joint; 

 and curiously, the piece of shell having evidently been fixed 

 vertically, or on edge, both sides are clustered over with cups 

 not placed at right angles to the surface in the usual manner, 

 but at an angle so small as to admit of the column having 

 free action in an upright position. This foot or basement is 

 no doubt an integral part of the organism, nurtured, matured, and 

 modified according to the requirements of the animal, in 

 confoimity with the laws of vital economy. 



The joints of the columns and side-arms would, in a recent 

 state, be very flexible through the intervention of elastic tissue, 



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