C E I 



[ 



many genera and species, and is 

 ranged by Cuvier after the asterise, 

 in the division of zoophytes. The 

 skeleton of the crinoidea is com- 

 posed of numerous ossicula, the 

 number of bones in one skeleton 

 being computed at upwards of 

 thirty thousand. Mr. Miller, in 

 his work, entitled " a Natural His- 

 tory of the Crinoidea," thus defines 

 them r . " An animal with a round, 

 oval, or angular column, composed 

 of numerous articulating joints, 

 supporting at its summit a series of 

 plates, or joints, which form a cup- 

 like body, containing the viscera, 

 from whose upper rim proceed five 

 articulated arms, divided into ten- 

 taculated fingers, more or less 

 numerous, surrounding the aper- 

 ture of the mouth, situated in the 

 centre of a plated integument, 

 which extends over the abdominal 

 cavity, and is capable of being 

 contracted into a conical or pro- 

 boscal shape." 



The existence and preservation 

 of the muscular portion of the 

 Crinoidea, have been proved by 

 Parkinson, who placed well pre- 

 served portions of columns in 

 diluted acid, which gradually 

 removed the calcareous matter, 

 and left the fine animal pellicle 

 behind. 



The detached ossicula of the 

 crino'idea occur in myriads in the 

 mountain limestone and transition 

 rocks, forming successions of strata, 

 each many feet in thickness, and 

 miles in extent; showing how 

 largely the bodies of animals have 

 contributed by their remains, to 

 increase the mass of materials 

 which compose the mineral world. 

 If we imagine a star-fish to possess 

 a long flexible column, the base of 

 which is attached to a rock, we 

 shall have a correct idea of the 

 general character of the crino'idea, 

 or lily-shaped animals ; which are 

 so called from their fancied resem- 



1 ] C R 



blance, when in a state of repose, 

 to a closed lily. The columns and 

 columnar joints of the crinoidea, 

 by their frequent occurrence and 

 remarkable figure, attracted the 

 attention of naturalists at an early 

 period. The round columns and 

 their depressed single perforated 

 joints, marked upon the upper and 

 lower surfaces with radiating stria3, 

 have acquired names founded on 

 superstitious ideas, their resem- 

 blance to other bodies, and the use 

 they were applied to ; as rosary 

 beads, giant's tears, fairy stones, 

 wheel stones, trochites, entrochites, 

 &c. The angular columns, being 

 generally star-shaped, received the 

 names, star-stones, asteria3, &c. 



The essentially distinguishing 

 character of the family of Crinoidea, 

 is the column formed of numerous 

 joints which separates them from the 

 Polypi, whilst the arms and fingers 

 surrounding the mouth, prove their 

 affinity to them and the Stellerida?. 

 Miller establishes four divisions 

 of the family of Crinoidea, namely, 

 Articulata, comprising the genera 

 Apiocrinites, Encrinites, and Pen- 

 tacrinites; Semiarticulata, genus 

 Poteriocrinites; Inarticulata, gene- 

 ra Cyathocrinites, Actinocrinites, 

 Rhodocrinites, and Platycrinites ; 

 and thirdly Coadunata, genus Eu- 

 geniacrinites. BucUand. Mantell. 

 Miller. 



CBINOIDE'AN Belonging to the order 

 Cirnoi'dea. 



CBIO'CEKAS. A genus of Ammonites ; 

 proposed by M. Leveille, with 

 disconnected whorls; the Tropaeum 

 of Mr. J". Sowerby. The C. Bower- 

 bankii belongs to the lower green 

 sand of the Isle of "Wight; the 

 C. Duvalii and the C. Plicatilis to 

 the Speeton clay of Yorkshire. 

 Lycett. 



CBO'CODILE. (/c/jo/co'^etXos, Gr. croco- 

 dilus, Lat. croccodillo, It. crocodile, 

 Fr.) An amphibious voracious 

 animal of the order Crocodilia, 



