Miscellaneous. 177 



3. " Cystechinus crassus, a new Species from the Radiolarian 

 Marls of Barbadoes ; and the evidence it affords as to the Age and 

 Origin of those Deposits." By J. W. Gregory, Esq., F.G.S. 



In this paper the discovery of a species of Cystechinus from the 

 Radiolarian earth of Barbadoes was recorded. The specimen is now 

 preserved in the IS^ational Collection, South Kensington. The form 

 was described and distinguished from the three modern species 

 which were found during tho 'Challenger' Expedition. The latter 

 have shown that the bathymetrical range of the genus is from 1050 

 to 2225 fathoms. 



The Author gave proofs that the specimen really came from the 

 Radiolarian marl, and not from the overlying Coralline limestone, 

 and after discussing the age of the marl, as inferred by Prof. E. 

 Forbes from an examination of the Mollusca, and by Prof. Haockel 

 after studying the Radiolaria, gave his reasons for siipposing that it 

 is in reality more modern than these authors supposed, and may be 

 referred to the Pliocene or Pleistocene. 



Though CystecJiinus a'cissits possessed plates of greater thickness 

 than those of the previously described species, the ambulacra were 

 apetaloid, and the Author concluded that though an inhabitant of 

 seas of less depth than those in which the modern forms occur, it 

 may be fairly considered to have been a dweller in deep seas, and 

 to indicate that the Radiolarian deposit is a true deep-sea ooze. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



A new Marine Larva and its Affinities, 

 By J. Walter Fewkes *. 



[Plate VIL fig. 4.] 



There are in the waters of the Atlantic, near the coast of the 

 United States, a large number of marine larvae, very different from 

 characteristic larvoB of the European seas, of the adult state of which 

 the naturalist is in profound ignorance f. The adults of these larvse 

 may have been described and figured, and may be well known, but 

 from the fact that many young marine animals are so different from 

 the adults their relationship is unsuspected, although both mature 

 and immature stages are known. It is certainly a desirable thing to 

 trace these larvae to their parents as a part of the great study of the 

 metamorphosis of marine animals. This special line of zoological 

 work has many attractions to an earnest band of working naturalists, 



* From * The Microscope ' for June 1888. 



t Conversely also we are ignorant of the young of a much larger 

 number of adult animals of our seas and bays. 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol iv. 12 



