140 Bibliographical Notices. 



of the cretaceous species belong either to Goniaster or to genera still 

 more distinctly tropical in character." 



The Asteriadae attained not only their maximum of development 

 at the cretaceous period, but appear, as far as the fossil species are 

 concerned, to have exceeded in number all those hitherto collected 

 and described from the other geological formations. Of the twenty- 

 four species noticed in this work, and the diagnoses of which origi- 

 nally appeared in the * Memoirs ' before cited, seven belong to the 

 genus Oreaster, the O. bulbifera, Forbes, being the handsomest and 

 most curious, but rarely found well-preserved ; fourteen to Goniaster 

 (including Goniodiscus and Astrogonium) ; two to Stellaster ; and one, 

 the most beautiful and singular of cretaceous starfishes, is assigned 

 to a new genus Arthraster {A. Dixoni), which is closely allied to the 

 living genus Ophiodaster ; " but the ossiculse of the arms are very 

 compactly articulated together and much fewer in number ; their ar- 

 rangement is also very different : exclusive of the ambulacra! ossiculse, 

 which are unknown, only seven bones enter into the composition of 

 the framework of the arm transversely, and these alternate in such a 

 manner as to form a compact skeleton without conspicuous inter- 

 stices." 



In the other part of the monograph by Prof. Forbes, some new 

 species of sea-urchins are described, as well as notices of those pre- 

 viously known ; besides which are two plates illustrative of many 

 very interesting, beautiful, and unique specimens of the cretaceous 

 Crinoidea, — Marsupites, Pentacrinus, and Apiocrinus : among the 

 figures of the latter, referred to A. ellipticus, we quite agree with the 

 describer, that more than one species is certainly included. 



In the above notice we have chiefly directed attention to the more 

 important generic novelties contained in this volume, scarcely alluding 

 to the many species indicated as entirely new, or those described by 

 foreign authors, but only recently identified as occurring in the ter- 

 tiary and cretaceous formations of this country, as well as the addi- 

 tional facts derived from the study of finer specimens of imperfectly 

 known species. 



We sincerely hope that this work may obtain a very general circu- 

 lation, and find its way into many private as well as public libraries ; 

 and that the example of the estimable lady, previously mentioned, 

 may stimulate the wealthy supporters of science to possess a volume 

 alike interesting to the geologist and archaeologist of the South of En- 

 gland, and to those engaged in the study of the cretaceous and ter- 

 tiary formations elsewhere. Nor will the intelligent reader, who con- 

 sults the pages with a view of becoming acquainted with that portion 

 of the earth's history, fail to perceive the higher tendency which the 

 contemplation of the beautiful works of Creation constantly produced 

 in the mind of the author, when he assures those who study natural 

 history in the most extensive sphere, that it is " well calculated to 

 improve our intellectual powers, to stimulate our exertions, and raise 

 our adoration and gratitude to the Supreme Disposer of all things." 



