I come by my convictions inevitably and by rea- 

 sons peculiarly persuasive to one of my calling. 

 These convictions, of course, I stand ready with 

 either my mildewed gloves or my typewriter to 

 uphold. But to enter upon a discussion here of the 

 causes underlying their attainment is aside from 

 my purpose; to do so would far overshadow the 

 main subject. Yet as deeply as these convictions 

 prevail, I remain always in equal readiness to 

 renounce them should other and cogent reasons 

 fully as persuasive arise. Therefore, I can only 

 request the reader, regardless of his belief in evo- 

 lution or his opinion of these matters generally, to 

 bear with me the while I attempt to outline the 

 main features of the ancient echinoderm. Whether 

 or not the image will be ideal cannot, obviously, 

 be affirmed positively; nor is this so important 

 right now. It will at least be interesting, however, 

 in the light of what is later revealed by the larvae 

 in the laboratory. And I merely present it for what 

 it is worth, letting the reader form his own conclu- 

 sions. I assure him I have no lurking desire to be 

 the Bryan of Biology or the Straton of Science-at- 

 large. 



Giving our consideration then to that form 



[91] 



