tfiS Bibliographical Notices. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Recherches sur les Crinoides du Terrain Carbonifere de la Belgique. 

 Par L. DE KoNiNCK et H. le Hon. Bruxelles. 1854. 



This volume, which has been reprinted from the Memoirs of the 

 Royal Academy of Belgium, embodies the researches of the authors 

 on the crinoidal remains which have been found in the carboniferous 

 limestone of that country. One of the authors. Prof, de Koninck, 

 has long been known as an acute and zealous palaeontologist, and his 

 work, published in 1842, * On the Fossils of the Mountain Limestone 

 of Belgium,' was an important addition to geological science, afford- 

 ing us another term of comparison with the British species, as well 

 as the affinities and distribution of these upper palaeozoic forms. 



At the time of publication of the former work, although containing 

 descriptions of 500 species from this deposit, only fifteen species of 

 Crinoids were then recognized. Since that period, by more active 

 researches, and under very favourable circumstances, a large number 

 of specimens have been obtained, from which the authors have elimi- 

 nated, described, and fully illustrated in this work no less than fifty- 

 three species from Belgium alone. The conditions under which some 

 portion of the carboniferous series of Belgium occurs, either as decom- 

 posed limestone or of an argillaceous character, have permitted the 

 extraction of many specimens in a perfect state of preservation. By 

 this means the authors have been enabled to study with more preci- 

 sion and detail than is usual in limestone fossils, the structure of cer- 

 tain little-known species of Crinoids, and have further been enabled 

 to confirm or modify the previously received opinions, as well as sug- 

 gest others, respecting the organization and probable habits of these 

 singular and interesting animals. The fifty-three species belong to 

 eleven genera, of which four are new, viz. Mespilocrinus, Graphio- 

 crinus, Forbesiocrinus and Lageniocrinus. According to the opinion 

 of Prof, de Koninck, the carboniferous limestone series of Belgium is 

 divided into an upper and lower ; the former, that of Tournay, being 

 characterized by the Spirifer Sowerbyi, Fischer ; the latter, that of 

 Vise, by the presence of Productus giganteus. Mart., P. striatus, 

 Fisch., and Spirifer striatus and jS*. bisulcatus. This distribution 

 of species does not, however, accord with the notions of some geolo- 

 gists. Taking however the facts as stated by Prof, de Koninck with 

 regard to the distribution of the species of Crinoids, nine belong ex- 

 clusively to the lower or Productus giganteus horizon ; these are — 

 and we quote them for the purpose of further investigation in this 

 country — Cyathocrinus mammillaris, Poteriocrinus calyx, P. M'Coy- 

 anusy P. PhillipsianuSy P. conoideus, Rhodocrinus tmiarticulatuSy 

 Mespilocrinus granifer, Actinocrinus tricuspidatus, Lageniocrinus 

 seminulum. The first three species have also been found in England. 



The remaining forty-four species belong to the superior horizon of 

 Spirifer Sowerbyi, and are characteristic of this stage in Belgium. 

 Twenty-four of these latter are also found in the British deposits. 



The prefatory matter contains an historical introduction on the 



