PREFACE. ViIt- 
Greek xpinoz, a lily ; prefixing for the name of each genus another 
descriptive term from the same language ; thus hoping to produce an 
association of ideas which a simple generic appellation could not 
have conveyed, and which might become more readily impressed on 
the memory of the student. 
I still, however, regret that it was not possible for me to avail 
myself of the very appropriate name Stylastrite (from xrraoz, a 
column, and azrron, a star, i. e. a stellated animal, supported on a 
column) proposed by Mr. Martin (the author of a work on the 
fossils of Derbyshire) in his outlines on the knowledge of extraneous 
fossils, This name happily describes not only the general resemblance, 
but also the place which this family should occupy in the natural 
arrangement of organized beings ; but being a compound term, would 
not have conveniently entered into any further combinations, and 
therefore would have failed in the object above specified. I cannot 
however pass it over without notice. 
I have avoided imposing names on imperfect fragments which did 
not yield a clearly distinct specific character, since this would only 
have uselessly swelled the already voluminous nomenclature of 
natural history. 
The anatomical descriptions are, in every instance, drawn up from 
actual and minute examination ; and it has been highly satisfactory 
to me, to have been able to verify and confirm the results obtained 
from the examination of fossil species, by comparison with the recent 
Pentacrinus, and to have found myself materially assisted: by the 
analogies thus afforded, in investigating the allied genera Marsupites 
and Comatula. 
we 
As a native of the once free Hanseatic town of Dantzig, I felt 
myself long embarrassed by that imperfect knowledge of the peculiar 
idiomatic forms of English composition, which must be supposed 
