58 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
On the Grasping Power of Carboniferous Crinoid 
“Fingers” or “Branches,” and a Speculation as 
to whether the Bulk of the Carboniferous 
Crinoidea were Fixed or Floating Animals. 
By Joun SMITH, Corresponding Member. 
[Read 25th May, 1897.] 
— 
Ir is now more than twenty years since I collected, at Wester- 
house, near Carluke, Lanarkshire, specimens showing parts of two 
Crinoid “ fingers” or “ranches,” twisted tightly round the stems 
of other Crinords, or perhaps round those to which the fingers 
belonged. Since then T have examined a considerable quantity 
of shale from various places, both in Carboniferous and Silurian 
districts, but it’ was only within the last twelve months that I 
obtained further examples of the grasping Crinoid remains. 
At Auchenskeith, Dalry Parish, Ayrshire, there is a bank of shale, 
about the centre of the quarry, with a considerable quantity of 
Crinoid debris exposed on it, and from it—by washing a large 
amount of the shale—I obtained a few examples. This Crinoid 
shale has come from the “ upper post” of the Lower Limestone 
Series, which here is pretty much cut up by interlaminated beds 
of fossiliferous shale, the section varying considerably along the 
exposed part of the quarry. 
Opposite the spoil bank where the grasping Crinoid remains 
most frequently occur, the section of this limestone is as follows:— 
Fossiliferous shale with much Crinoid debris, - - 4 feet. 
Crinoid shale with 3 bands of Crinoidal limestone, — - 43 
Shale with many small Corals, and 1 band of lime- 
stone with Corals, - - - - : ~ «Dig 
Limestone with 8 thin bands of shale, = - : a oy 
Limestone with 9 partings of shale, - - - 44,, 
(Alum Shale.) 

