DEAD SEA-LILIES. 79 



Crinoids are allied to the star-fishes through 

 Comatula and Euryale, while they are linked on to 

 the sea-urchins by the Saccosoma of the Oolites 

 and the Marsupites of the Chalk. 



A marked decrease in the number of encrinites 

 is observable in the Cretaceous deposits. The 

 stalked crinoids are represented by the genera 

 Pentacrinus and Bourgueticrinus. Amongst the free 

 crinoids are the feather-star and the tortoise en- 

 crinites (Marsupites). 



The process of diminution continued through post- 

 Cretaceous times. In Eocene beds Crinoids are very 

 poorly represented. But the forms which survive 

 are for the most part those of highest development, 

 such as the free or " sessile " Comatula, a typical 

 example of modern living Crinoids. 



