1 28 Lily Lncrinite found in Mountain Limestone. 



possession, from the oolite), the division of the vertebral 

 column into separate joints is distinctly visible, and each joint 

 presents a uniformity of structure. * 



I now beg to direct your attention to the accompany- 

 ing sketch. The vertebral column, detached from the body 

 of the animal, presents no unusual appearance. The bones 

 of the pelvis, the scapula, the clavicle, the arms, and the 

 fingers, present a uniformly solid and compact bony appear- 

 ance : but, from the pelvis to the termination of the fossil, 

 there is a gradually diminishing process, without any appear- 

 ance of joint, and which presents a lamellar structure, quite 

 different from the other parts. This difference of structure 

 I have endeavoured to exhibit in the drawing. This portion 

 of the animal appears as if formed of thin plates passing over 

 each other, like scales on a fish, and which has suggested in 

 my mind the idea that this portion was elastic. The ten- 

 tacula are not visible in any connected form, but are thickly 

 scattered over the stone. 



The specimen has been somewhat injured in its transit ; 

 but, when we consider that the block from which it was hewn 

 was first of all transported from the quarry to Cork, then 

 thrust into the hold of a vessel as ballast, and lastly dis- 

 charged (roughly enough, you may imagine) as useless lumber 

 in the port of Newport, I am perfectly astonished that so 

 fragile a body should have escaped so well ; and, if I am right 

 in supposing it to be the first discovered specimen of the 

 lily encrinite in the British strata, I shall reckon myself 

 singularly fortunate in having obtained possession of it. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Pont?iewydd Works, near Newport, C. Conway. 



Monmouthshire, Oct. 18. 1832. 



An able geologist, to whose consideration we submitted 

 Mr. Conway's communication, knows of no previous instance 

 of the occurrence of the lily encrinite in the strata of Britain, 

 nor does another geologist of eminence to whom we men- 

 tioned the fact. He consequently deems Mr. Conway's dis- 

 covery of great interest to geologists, but earnestly advises us 

 to procure a specimen of the " limestone." We have accord- 

 ingly applied to Mr. Conway for one. — Cond, 



* Fig.16. may appear, perhaps, to tell rather against the distinction I 

 am endeavouring fc> point out. Parkinson says, " The granulated appear- 

 ance at the inferior part of this specimen proceeds from the attachment of 

 some coralloid body, which has become petrified with the encrinus." In 

 my specimen there is no appearance of any extraneous body attached 

 to it. 



