126 OUR COMMON BRITISH FOSSILS, 



crinus appears to be mdst abundant in the Caradoc 

 beds, and may usually be found where they are well 

 exposed. 



In the neighbourhood of Newton Abbot, Torquay, 

 and elsewhere, where the Devonian limestones crop 

 out, remains of Encrinites peculiar to this formation 

 in their specific character, may be found, although not 

 abundantly. It would seem as if corals, having 

 pretty much the same marine habits as Encrinites, 

 competed with them. Hence, as a rule, wherever 

 fossil corals are very abundant, Encrinites are scarce ; 

 and contrariwise. This is markedly the case with the 

 Devonian limestones of England, where fossil corals 

 are very abundant, and Encrinites comparatively rare, 

 except in certain localities. In the Eifel Moun- 

 tains, the Crinoid family is better represented. One 

 of the few characteristic genera is Cupressocrinus t or 

 " Cypress " Encrinite ; Haplocrinus is another. Platy- 

 crinus, a genus very abundant in the Carboniferous 

 limestone, makes its first appearance in the Devonian 

 strata. Its stem is a little flattered or lenticular, 

 instead of being round, as is usually the case with 

 Palaeozoic Crinoids. The former part of its generic 

 name signifies "breadth," on account of the basal 

 and radial plates of the body being unusually broad 

 in comparison with those of other Encrinites. 



The Carboniferous limestone is undoubtedly the 

 metropolis of the Crinoids. During its deposition in 

 Europe, the number of genera and species reached its 



