ENCRINITES. 



49 



Encrinite,* one of the lowest of the class of Star-fishes. In its 

 habits of life an Encrinite, thus constructed, closely resembles the 

 more highly-organized Anthozoa. Fixed by its jointed stem 

 upon the surface of the rock, it curves ,, : ^,, , 



its pedicle from side to side in search 

 of food, which with its flower-like arms 

 it seizes and conveys into its mouth. 

 These Encrinites are, in modern times, 

 the scarcest productions of the ocean. 

 A species similar to that in our en- 

 graving exists in the West Indian seas; 

 and not many years ago, the interest- 

 ing discovery was made of another 

 species upon our own coasts ; this, 

 however, is of very small size, not ex- 

 ceeding three-quarters of an inch in 

 length : with these rare exceptions, the 

 race of Encrinites appears to be extinct. 

 Yet the time has been when the bottom 

 of the sea must have been as thickly 

 covered with creatures of this descrip- 

 tion as a corn-field is with corn. Many 

 large kinds are found in a fossil state * 

 in our chalk and limestone rocks, and 

 vast strata of marble, extending over 

 large tracts of country in Northern 

 Europe and in North America, are en- 

 tirely made up of their petrified skele- 

 tons. 



"Man applies it to construct his palace and adorn 

 his sepulchre ; but there are few who know, and 

 fewer still who appreciate, the surprising fact that 

 much of this marble is composed of millions of the 

 skeletons of organized beings, once endowed with 

 life, and susceptible of enjoyment, which after per- 

 forming the part that was for a while assigned to 

 them in living Nature, have contributed their re- 

 mains towards the composition of the mountain 

 masses of the earth." DR. BUCKLAND. 



The numerous pieces of which their stems were formed are met 

 with in abundance in the north of England, where they are 

 popularly known as St. Cuthbert's beads, while -their Polype-like 



FIG. 43. FOSSIL. 



FIG. 43, a. 

 LILY STONES. 



* 'ev, en, in ; Kplvov, krinon, a lily. 



