181 



numerous, the fossil skeleton of the superior part of this animal con- 

 sists of at least twenty-six thousand pieces. To shew this, the fol- 

 lowing statement is annexed : 



Of the bones forming the pelvis, there are five central cuneiform bones 



(Ossa innominataj 5 



five ribs 5 



. . . . . five clavicles 5 



. . , . . . . five scapulae 5 



arms . . . six bones in each of the ten 



arms 60 



hands. Each hand being formed of two fingers, 



and each finger consisting of at least 40 os- 

 siculae, these, in 20 fingers, make . . . 800 



tentacula, 30 proceeding from each of the 



6 bones in each of the ten arms, make . 1,800 



30 proceeding, on the average, from 



each of the 800 bones of the fin- 

 gers, make . 24,000 



; ______^ 



Total . . 26,680 



Respecting the inferior termination of the trunk of this animal our 

 knowledge is so exceedingly limited, as not to have furnished us with 

 sufficient materials to have allowed its mention in the preceding 

 character of this animal. 



The considering of zoophytes as belonging to the vegetable king- 

 dom, would necessarily lead the earlier oryctologists to suppose, that 

 the encrinus had been affixed to rocks or some other solid bodies, by 

 a part analogous to the roots of vegetables. Thus Agricola remarks, 

 " Saepenumero lapis informis reperitur una cum trochite et entrocho, 

 rotae in se continens figuram; quae in eo quasi quoedam RADIX, tro- 

 chitis jam abruptis, remansit." The industrious Rosinus also noticed 

 certain bodies, which he thought might be considered as the primary 

 branches or rays of some species of stellce marines, and which certainly 



