BOOK FOURTH. 



ECHIXODEEMATA 



CLASSIFICATION. 



§71. 



The Echtsoberms have a more or less coriaceou5 envelope, filled with cal- 

 careous, rerieolated corpuscles. These last are sometimes so numerous that 

 they form a real shell, composed of plates, movable, or tightly bound 

 together. In the ray-like, symmetric-ally-arranged systems of organs, the 

 quinquenary number prevails. 



In many species the digestive canal is asymmetrieaL All are marine, 

 and most of them move by means of particular, erectile suckers. Others 

 progress by vermiform motions, and some swim freely by moving their rays 

 like oars. Only a few are stationary. All are without copulatory organs. 



ORDER I. CRLS'OWEA. 



The calcareous sheU, composed of movable pieces, forms a true cutane- 

 ous skeleton- The body is ray-like : the digestive canal, asymmetrical. 



F amtt. y : EscBixroiE. 

 Grenus : PentacriTius. 



FaMTT.Y : CoMAXTLIXiE. 



Grenua : Comatula. 



ORDER n. ASTEROIDEA. 



The calcar''"' -^^ •" :.sed of movable pieces, forms an internal skel- 

 eton. The c_ - -g i^ sometimes coriaceous, and sometimes cal- 

 careous. The body is ray-like, and the digestive canal symmetrical. 



FaMILT : OPHTCRrDAIL 



Genera : Astrophytcm^ OpMcmyx, Opkiothrix, Ophumiastix, Ophiocoma, 



CpMolepls, Ophioderma. 



