1886.] NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 139 



(?) HOLOCRINUS W. and Sp. 

 (iiXui solid, Kpifui/ a lily.) 



The above name is proposed to include a species whicb was 

 lately described from rather imperfect specimens by Mr. Picard, 

 under the name of Encrinus Beyrichi, but which certainly is no 

 Encrimis. We entertain little doubt that the species must be 

 referred to the Belemnocrinidse ; we are, however, not quite so 

 sure that it is generically distinct from the typical form, which 

 depends upon the presence or absence of the anal plate. No 

 anal plate has been described in this species, and it is more than 

 probable that none was present. It perhaps represents one of 

 those transition forms, which in their earlier life were good Palaeo- 

 crinoids, but by resorption of the interradial plates attained, to 

 some extent, the characteristics of the earlier Neocrinoidea. 



Generic Diagnosis.^ Dorsal cup strictly pentahedral ; con- 

 stricted above the basals. Basals large, forming an almost solid 

 subglobular body, without underbasals. Radials very small, 

 quadrangular, supporting three to four narrow brachials, the 

 upper one bifurcating. There are two arms to each ray which 

 remain simple. Arms thin, composed of short, cuneate joints, 

 with rather stout pinnules. 



Column pentangular, and, as in Belemnocrinus Jlorifer, pro- 

 vided with long cirrhi, given off at intervals in whorls from the 

 nodal joints, and extending up, and partly covering, the calyx 

 and the lower portions of the arms. 



The only known species is : 



1SS4. Holocrinus Beyrichi (Picard), W. and Sp., Zeitschr. d. Deutsch. geolog. 

 Gesellsch., Jabrg. 1883. Mufchelkalk. Sondershausen, Germ. 



Family XXI. CYATHOCRINID.S1 Roemer. 



(Emended Zittel, emended W. and Sp.) 

 a. Dendrocrinites. 

 MEROCRINUS Walcott. 

 1883. Adv. sheet 35th Rep. N. Y. State Cab. Nat. Hist., p. 2. 



In the arrangement of the plates at the azygous side and in 

 the construction of its ventral tube, this genus has close affinities 

 with the Heterocrinidse, but differs from them in having under- 



^ Our diagnosis is made from the figure of Mr. Picard' s imperfect 

 specimen. 



