RESEARCH COLLECTIONS 67 



the Boston Society of Natural History as the result of the changed 

 plan of administration of that institution. These several collections 

 noted mostly consist of fossils of various groups of animals of which 

 the fossil echinoderms comprised only a portion. The Wachsmuth 

 collection, as an exception, consisted mainly of crinoids. 



Of investigators whose echinoderm studies were based to a greater 

 or less extent on the material now in the Museum, may be men- 

 tioned Wachsmuth and Springer, later Springer alone, Schultze, 

 James Hall, Meek and Worthen, C. D. Walcott. Charles Schuchert 

 and particularly Robert T. Jackson. 



Of the cystoids there are 56 trays. In this material there are a 

 number of types and figured specimens, some 26 as recorded. Of 

 blastoids there are 14 trays, including some 20 types and figured 

 specimens. 



The collection of crinoids is extensive, filling some 430 trays. This 

 collection includes much very choice material from the Wachsmuth, 

 Barris, Dyer and Walcott collections from America and the Schultze, 

 de Koninck and Schary collections from Europe. There are 764 

 species and varieties of crinoids as recorded in the systematic card 

 catalogue. This includes some 168 types and in addition 108 figured 

 specimens. 



Of the Stelleroidea, including both starfishes and ophiurans, there 

 are 14 trays of specimens, which is a relatively large number for such 

 rare fossils as is this group. There are some 22 types or figured speci- 

 mens. Twelve of the specimens are figured in Dr. Charles Schu- 

 chert's recent revision of the Palaeozoic Stelleroidea. 



The fossil echini may, for convenience, be considered under 

 Palaeozoic and Post-Palaeozoic formations. Of Palaeozoic echini 

 there are 45 trays. Some 138 valid species of Palaeozoic echini are 

 recognized. Of these there are in the Museum collection specimens 

 representing 50 species, of which 1 7 species are represented by type 

 material. Some 57 of the Museum's specimens have served as the 

 originals of published figures. Besides species represented by speci- 

 mens seventeen additional Palaeozoic species are represented by 

 casts, largely of the types. 



Of Post-Palaeozoic fossil echini there are: of the Cidaroidea 21 

 trays; Centrechinoida 34 trays; Holectypina 15 trays; Clypeastrina 

 23 trays; and Spatangina 103 trays. This material includes many 



