112 Miscellaneous. 



inner margins are straight ; the outer nearly parallel, and somewhat 

 rounded toward both ends. Prof. Allman says that in his specimens 

 these shields " have their opposed edges in contact for their entire 

 length." In almost every case the animal has split up horizontally, 

 and the shields of whichever side happened to be uppermost have 

 been lost, apparently, with the upper layer of clay. Of course, it is 

 the internal surfaces of the shields only that are presented to view ; 

 and in no instance can the dorsal shields of the arms be seen in posi- 

 tion. In one or two individuals, however, that lay on the dorsal 

 surface, the inner sides of these shields are exposed ; their margins 

 are parallel across the arms, and they meet each other by slightly 

 bevelled edges. At the proximal end these dorsal shields are broader 

 than long ; but this is gradually reversed as they approach the ex- 

 tremity of the arms, where the length is nearly double the breadth. 

 In some of the arms the central ossicles which form their axis 

 are preserved, about half the length of the former. When these 

 ossicles are lost or removed, the inner sides of the lateral shields can 

 be distinctly seen ; each shield meets that of the opposite side by a 

 median suture on the lower side of the arms ; in some cases this 

 suture can be traced to almost the extreme points of the arms ; but 

 when the shields are in their natural position, it is not so apparent. 

 Each lateral shield has a small knob on the internal surface, in most 

 cases placed near the aboral margin. The notches on the aboral 

 edges of the lateral shields, for the exit of the cirri, mentioned by 

 Allman, can be readily seen. The spines on the lateral shields are 

 difficult to distinguish, and can be seen in one or two instances only; 

 they appear to be rather short, and there are indications of two on 

 some of the shields ; the condition of the present specimens, however, 

 will scarcely admit of a positive statement on the point. The ven- 

 tral shields are very small, and can be seen, in a few instances, in 

 the inside view of the arms, more especially where the lateral shields 

 are a little apart at their lower angles. 



The specimens are of various sizes. In the largest specimen the 

 disk is f of an inch in diameter, and each arm is about 2 inches long. 

 The arms are preserved to the minute points ; from which we may 

 infer that the animals had been suddenly killed, otherwise we should 

 have expected to find them in a disjointed state. 



The Seafield Brick-Clay is about two miles west from St, Andrews. 

 The bed containing the fossils is from 15 to 18 feet above the level 

 of the sea. The present condition of the clay-pit will not admit of 

 the section being correctly taken ; it may, however, be stated roughly 

 to consist of — (1) red sandy clay, containing a few small stones; 



(2) finer red clay, containing some nodule-looking concretions ; 



(3) tenacious clay, of a bluish colour, without any stones. This 

 latter bed is about 15 feet from the surface ; and from it the fossils 

 were obtained. 



Since the above was written, Mr. Meldrum (through whose efforts 

 the Starfishes were preserved) has informed me that fragments of 

 shells are sometimes found in the upper beds ; they will be taken 

 care of in future, and may form the subject of another Note. 



