ENCRINITES. 127 



maximum. They were never so numerous before ; 

 they have gradually been dwindling away ever since, 

 until our own epoch seems to be that when their 

 final extinction will occur. Besides Rhodocrinus, 

 Platycrinus, and Poteriocrinus (already referred to), 

 we have the remains of such genera as Actinocrinus, 

 Cyathocrinus, Gilbertocrinus, Taxocrinus, Woodocrinus, 

 etc. Sometimes, as in the neighbourhood of Clitheroe, 

 Lancashire, we get limestone seams composed of 

 heads of Encrinites, just as elsewhere we get beds 

 formed of their stems and arms. Cyathocrinus, Actino- 

 crinus, Platycrinus, and Poteriocrinus are the com- 

 monest of Carboniferous genera, the latter being 

 profusely abundant in Ireland and Scotland, as well 

 as in every part of England where the Mountain or 

 Carboniferous limestone appears. Actinocrinus is an 

 abundant fossil in places ; its name of " radiated " 

 Encrinite being due to the thorn-like side-arms, which 

 project, at irregular distances, from the main column. 

 Woodocrinus was named after the late Mr. Edward 

 Wood, of Richmond, in Yorkshire, its original dis- 

 coverer. Although not a very widely distributed 

 fossil, it occurs in large quantities and in great per- 

 fection in the Carboniferous limestone at Richmond, 

 whence most of the finest specimens seen in private 

 and public collections were obtained ; thanks to the 

 generosity of Mr. Wood, who worked a small quarry 

 for the sole purpose of obtaining specimens to give 

 away to his friends. 



