481' Mr. J. W. Salter on some new Palaozoic Star-fishes. 



transversis tlecussatis ; regione iimbilicali impressa ; apertura sub- 

 circulari ; labio vix incrassato ; labro simplici. 



Hab. Tabu-Siiiia; 25 fathoms. 



A small tliiii species with plicate whorls crossed by regular 

 elevated transverse liree. 



5. Genus Scaliola, A. Adams. 



Shell thin, turreted, perforate ; whorls rounded, agglutinate. 

 Aperture circular ; peritreme simple, acute. 



Scaliola belta, A. Adams, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1860, vol. vi. 



Hab. Tabu-Sima; 25 fathoms. 



An examination of fresh specimens of this little genus proves 

 that it has the faculty, like Helicina agf/lutinans and the species 

 of Onustidce, of covering the surface of the valves with foreign 

 bodies. 



Shanghai, China, 

 Mav3, 1861. 



XLVIII. — Additional Notes on some new Palceozoic Star-fishes. 

 By J. W. Salteu, Esq., F.G.S., Geol. Survey of Great Britain. 



[Plate XVm. figs. 9, 10, 11.] 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, 



In the Notes I sent you on the Silurian Starfishes (Annals, 

 ser, 2. vol. xx. p. 321, pi. 9) one of the most doubtful points was 

 the true position of the long-armed genus Protaster (fig. 4). It 

 had all the appearance of an Oj)hiura, and yet there was so much 

 apparent similarity to the accompanying genera of AsteriadcB as 

 to suggest the expectation that they might be found nearly 

 allied. 



A fresh set of specimens of these beautiful fossils has cleared 

 up the point, at least so far as it shows that Protaster possessed 

 the usual madreporic plate of the Asteriadce. Its position, and 

 a slightly magnified view of the plate are given in the sketch, 

 fig. 9. 



There were also some important differences, when Protaster 

 was compared with the Ophiuridce, in the structure of the arms 

 themselves ; for the number of plates in a circuit of the arm was 

 six in Protaster, four in all ordinary Ophiurids. This number, 

 indeed, is constant ; or if, as in Ophiolepis, the upper plate be 

 sometimes divided, this is accidental, no species being known in 



