404 ECHINODERMATA. CRINOID*. 



The rays in this genus, which arise from a very small disc, are generally five in 

 number at their origin, but they bifurcate in certain species, and branch out to a 

 great number. They are never pectinated or pinnated by the rows of spines as in 

 the Ophiurae. 



E. verrucosum, Lam. Disc broad, radiated above, with verrucose 

 ribs; ribs flat below, with two rows of papillae ; papillae small, 

 submarginal. A large species. Indian seas. Lam. ii. 537. 



E. costosum, Lam. Back of the disc with ten smooth rays arranged 

 in pairs ; apex truncated ; rays dichotomous, branching, trans- 

 versely rugose. American seas Sharv, Zool. Mis. iii. pi. 103. 



Gen. 19. COMATULA, Lam. 



Body orbicular, depressed, radiated ; rays of two kinds, dorsal 

 and marginal, all furnished with calcareous articulations ; dor- 

 sal rays very simple, filiform, cirrous, small, ranged on the 

 back of the disc ; marginal rays always pinnated, much lar- 

 ger than the simple rays, the inferior pinnulae elongated, 

 mding downwards, and surrounding the ventral disc ; mouth 

 inferior, central, isolated, membranous, tubular, and project- 

 ing. 



The number of proper or pinnated rays in this genus is usually five ; but in cer- 

 tain species these rays are divided almost to their base into two, three, four, and 

 sometimes five branches, supported on a short peduncle. These rays, however, are 

 distinct from those of the genus Euryale, in not being dichotoraous. 



C. Solaris, Lam. With ten wide pinnated rays, the back flatten- 

 ed, sulcated below with transverse crenated ribs. About a foot 

 in diameter. Inhabits South seas. Lam. ii. 533. 



C.Jimbriata, Lam. (Stella Chinensis, Petiv.) With pinnated rays 

 divided into from two to five portions at the base ; rays slender ; 

 joints of the margin subciliated. Inhabits Southern seas. Petiv. 

 Gaz. pi. 4, fig. 6. 



SECTION IV. CEINOID^E. 



The remains of the animals of this family, till lately only found in a fossil state, 

 were known under various names, as Entrochi, Trochites, and Encrinites. Their 

 fragments, of various forms, and disseminated in great quantities through calca- 

 reous rocks, proves the former existence of the animals in great numbers in the an- 

 cient ocean ; and the discovery of a recent species leads to the hope that other indi- 

 viduals of the same or connected genera may await the research of future naturalists. 

 The genus Encrmus, as formerly characterized, embraced animals with an osseous 

 or stony stalk, ramified or umbellate at the summit, and articulated throughout, co- 

 vered by a membrane, and furnished with polypiferous tubes. Cuvier arranged the 

 Encrinites among the Echinodermata, and Lamarck placed them among the Polypi. 

 Mr Miller, in his excellent work on the Crinoidea t or Lily-shaped Animals, arranges 

 these remains in four sections. 



I. Plates of the body or pelvis resting on the last columnar joint, and forming the 

 cup containing the viscera, articulated with each other by lip-like and transverse 

 processes, having a minute perforation. Gen. Apiocrinites, Pentacrinus. 



II. Plates of the body articulating imperfectly with each other by transverse proces- 

 ses, having a minute central perforation. Poteriocrinites. 



III. Plates of the body adhering by sutures lined by muscular ligament. Cyatho- 

 crinites, Actinocrinites, Rhodocrinites, Platycrinites. 



IV. Plates of the body anchylosing with the last columnar joint 



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