256 Miscellaneous. 



its resemblauce " to Asterocrlnites of Muustei', and proposed instead 

 that of Z>/(/ocrimis. Kcimcr, from the foiir-rayed structure of our 

 Astrocrinitcs, allied it to the Cystoidea rather than to the Blastoidea. 

 Prof, de Koninck and M. le Hon, however, referred Zt/gocrinus to 

 the Blastoidea, and stated their reasons for so doing. Prof. Morris 

 in 1854 altered Austin's Astrocrinites into Astrocrlnus, and does not 

 notice Bronn's name Zifc/ocn.mis. Prof. Pictet provisionally referred 

 the latter genus structurally to Godonaster, noticing, however, its 

 four instead of five pseudamlnilacra, The author then notices at 

 some length the species he proposes to call A.Beimiei, which appears 

 to differ much from Austin's A. tetrar/onns. The body or calyx of 

 A. Btnniei is quadriradiate, having four convex lobes, three of which 

 are alike-, the fourth differing considerably from the others ; the deep 

 reentering angles between the lobes are occupied by the pseudam- 

 bulacra ; the dorsal surface is densely covered with closely set tuber- 

 cles, but shows no point of attachment ; the ventral surface is flat- 

 tened, having a large central aperture, from which radiate the four 

 I)seudambulacra ; excentric as compared with the ambulacral system 

 is a second and pyriform aperture of complex structure. The com- 

 ponent parts are then minutely described, followed by careful de- 

 scriptions of the pseudambulacra, apertures, and ornamentation, also 

 a discussion as to the presence of a niadreporiform tubercle. The 

 second part of the paper treats upon the affinities of A. Benidel 

 (Ether.) with A. tdracjonus (Austin). Part the third enters fully 

 and critically into the systematic position of Astrocrinites amongst 

 the Cystoidea and Blastoidea. In the concluding and fourth portion 

 of the paper, the localities and geological horizons are given. 

 Twenty-seven figures, occupying three plates, accompanied the paper. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



0)1 the EelatioHS of Artemia salina and Artemia Miihlhausenii, and 

 on the Genus Branchipus. By M. W. J. Schmankewitsch. 



The author has observed that under the influence of a gradual 

 concentration of the salt water in which Artemia salina lives that 

 species is gradually modified, and at last acquires the characters of 

 A. Miihlhausenii. In 1871 the salt marshes near Odessa contained 

 Artemia salina in great abundance. At this time, in consequence 

 of the rupture of a dyke, the quantity of salt contained in these 

 pools was rather small, their water marking only 8° Baume. After 

 the dykes were repaired the concentration increased rapidly, so that 

 in the summer of 1872 the water already marked 14°; in 1873 it 

 had risen to 18° ; at the beginning of August 1874 to 23°-5, and in 

 September of the same year it had attained 25°. At the same time 

 that the salting became stronger and stronger, the Artemia salina 

 was modified from generation to generation to such an extent that, 

 at the end of the summer of 1874, a great portion of the individuals 

 of this species no longer had caudal lobes, and already presented all 



