found Fossil in British Strata. 383 



been figui-ed by Goldfuss from the Muschelkalk, who has also made 

 known a true Asterias, or Astropecten, from the lias of Wurtemberg. 

 Several species oi Astropecten have been observed in the oolites of 

 Yorkshire ; and similar forms in corresponding beds in Germany, 

 where JJrasterice have also been found. A single example of a 

 fossil Luidia has been made known from the marlstone of Yorkshire, 

 and a Goniaster from oolitic beds in Germany. In the upper se- 

 condary (cretaceous) rocks, numerous fossil star-fishes have occurred, 

 especially of the genus Goniaster. Representatives of Oreaster, As- 

 tropecten, Asterina, and Arthraster (n. g.) are also present in the 

 cretaceous series. The few older tertiary star-fishes with which we 

 are acquainted, belong to the genus Astropecten. Arguing from the 

 analogy of their associates, there can be no question that star-fishes 

 were abundant in the tertiary seas. Yet how very rare are the traces 

 of their existence ! In the later tertiary strata, the only evidence 

 as yet procured of their presence during the deposition of those beds 

 consists in a few minute fragmentary osslcula of Urasterice. Yet, 

 when we consider the gregarious habits of those star-fishes, espe- 

 cially of the species to which the ossicula pi'eserved in all probability 

 belonged, it is very wonderful to mark the almost total disappear- 

 ance of their exuviae ; and the fact should serve as a caution to those 

 who would unhesitatingly infer the absence of a tribe of organised 

 beings, especially of such as present few facilities for preservation, 

 from the absence of their fossil remains. Even now, when dredg- 

 ing, we very I'arely bring up any remains of dead star-fishes, whilst 

 the living animals are not only present in the locality explored, but 

 often so abundant as to fill the bag of the dredge, to the exclusion of 

 all other creatures. 



We refer our readers to the concluding part of Professor E. For- 

 bes's interesting memoir, from which the above is extracted, for de- 

 scriptions of the fossil Asteriadte. (^Vide vol. ii. o[ Memoirs of the 

 Geological Survey of Great Britain, p. 461.) 



Miscellaneous Observations on the Centipede {Scolopendra mor- 

 sitans), and on the large Land Snail of the West Indies 

 {Helix oblonga). By JOHN Davv, M.D., F.E..S. London 

 and Edinburgh ; Inspector- General of Ai'my Hospitals. 

 Communicated by the Author. 



In a former communication, published in the Philosophical 

 Journal, I gave an account of the urinary excretion of the 

 centipede, how it consisted chiefly of lithate of ammonia. 

 Then, I had obtained no certain information respecting its 



