276 



ON A NEW SPECIES OF EURYPTERUS, 



EURYPTERUS BRODIEI (H. Woodward), 



FROM PERTON, NEAR STOKE EDITH, HEREFORDSHIRE. 

 BY HENRY WOODWARD, F.G.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



In March, 1869, the Rev. P. B. Brodie, F.G.S., communicated to the 

 Geological Society a short account of the occurrence of remains of Eurypterus 

 and Pterygotus at Perton. (See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxv., part 1, p. 235). 



Mr. Brodie stated that the specimens collected at that time and sub- 

 mitted to me, were not considered to be new ; in fact, they consisted, for the 

 most part, of fragments of Ptcrygotus (P. Banlcsii) and Eurypterus* (E. 

 pygmceus, E. acuminatus, E. ablreviatus, etc., already noticed by Mr. Salter 

 elsewhere. ) 



Since that communication was read, Mr. Brodie has again explored thi s 

 locality and has forwarded to me several parts and an almost entire example of a 

 Eurypterus which differs considerably from any species previously examined by 

 me, and of which I beg to subjoin a short notice. 



The most perfect specimen measures 2f inches in length and ten lines in its 

 widest throracic segment. All the somites are united, and one of the swimming- 

 feet, although injured, is still in place. The head, which is semicircular in out- 

 line, measures 4 lines in length, by 9 lines in breadth. The eyes are sub-central 

 and the ocelli nearly central, as in the other species of Eurypterus. The first six 

 segments (thoracic) succeeding the head, measure together 9 lines in length ; 

 commencing at a breadth of 9 lines they increase, at the 3rd segment, to 10 

 lines, and diminish, at the 6th segment, to 7 lines in breadth. The segments 

 increase in length and diminish in breadth very evenly from the 3rd segment 

 backwards. The borders of all the anterior segments are curved and the posterior 

 angles slightly produced and somewhat acutely pointed. 



The six posterior (abdominal) segments diminish in breadth backwards 

 from six lines to two lines, and increase in the same direction, in length, from 

 1^ lines to 2^ or nearly 3 lines ; the body being terminated by a slender ensiform 

 telson, or tail-spine 7 lines in length. No sculpture is apparent on the segments 

 or head but the integument, composicg the former, indicates its tenuity by abund- 

 ance of plica? and wrinkles. The thoracic plate is very characteristic. It is 9 

 lines broad and two and a half in depth ; this median appendage is spindle-shaped 

 in outline, and is oh lines in length and 1], lines broad. The swimming-foot is 

 2-j lines in breadth and fths of an inch in length, exclusive of the basal joint. 



•See Mem. Geol. Surv. Mon. I. 1859. PI. xii. rig. 22-46. p. 51. Also Quart. Journ. 

 Geol. Soc, 1359, vol. nv. pi. x. p. 229. 



