394 Mr. F. A. Bather on British Fossil Crinoids: 



Botryocrinus ramosus, sp. ii. 

 (PL XIII. figs. 1-4.) 



This species is founded on a single specimen in the British 

 Museum [57217], formerly in the collection of the late Mr. 

 John Gray of Haglej, whicli comes from the Upper Wenlock 

 Limestone of Dudley. The specimen is a crown lying in 

 matrix and unfortunately imperfect at either end. Hitherto 

 I have referred it by turns to B. ramosissimus and B. coralJum, 

 but examination of the Swedish specimens has brought to 

 light differences that appear to warrant its distinction as a 

 separate species. 



Specific Diagnosis. 



Cup rather broad at base ; plates slightly rounded. Arti- 

 cular facet occupies greater part of width of radial. Costals 

 3 or 4 to a ray. Arras about six times length of cup ; give 

 off small armlets at irregular intervals ; axillaries rather 

 nodose ; arm-ossicles with rounded backs, slightly moniliform, 

 height : width : : 5 : 8. Proximal median plate of sac almost 

 full width of a?, large and high. Ventral sac and stem 

 unknown. 



The epithet ramosus, branched, while it suggests the 

 resemblance of this species to B. ramosissimus^ indicates that 

 the branching of the armlets is not quite so pronounced. 



Description of Specimen. 



Dorsal cup. — Since this is broken in the lower part, espec- 

 ially on the posterior side, its exact proportions cannot be 

 accurately determined. It must, however, have closely 

 resembled that of B. ramosissimus, and we may estimate the 

 measurements as : — Breadth at base 6 millim. ; breadth at 

 summit 11"5 millim. ; height 10 millim. 



Infrabasals presumably 5 and pentagonal ; only the upper 

 parts of the anterior and left anterior are seen. 



Basals 5 : only the left anterior is completely preserved ; 

 hexagonal, height 5 millim., width 4 millim., with almost 

 parallel sides ; it is rounded or, in other words, very slightly 

 depressed at the angles. 



Kadials 5; articular facet shallow and broad, occupying 

 about T% width of plate ; height, measured to lowest point on 

 .facet, 4 millim. ; width below, 5'1 millim., width above, 5*4 

 millim. 



The Arms are of rough appearance, swaying from node to 

 node ; their distal ends being lost, one can only estimate their 



