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numerous spines and retractile muscular feelers, indicate a different mode of 

 detaining food and bringing it to the mouth, which is confirmed by theOphiurae 

 and Asteriaj crawling along with the mouth downwards, catching their prey, 

 and pushing it on along the space or groove between the inner lateral angles 

 of the arms to the mouth. 



Although the numerous fingers of the Euryale, resulting from the repeated 

 bifurcation of the five arms, are well calculated to detain prey caught in a 

 floating attitude, yet the want of tentacula, still removes them from the Cri- 

 iioidea in organization. 



These and other facts (too numerous to be incorporated in the present 

 monograph, but which, should circumstances favour my researches and give 

 them a degree of maturity, I intend at a future time to lay before the public) 

 resulted from my enquiries. 



The comparison of these results with those obtained from the Crinoidea 

 made me anxious to examine the Comatulaj, the only remaining genus of 

 the Stelleridae, which from its general aspect seemed to promise a nearer 

 approach than any of the preceding to the family of Crinoidea, and in which 

 I therefore still hoped to find this connecting link of which I was in search. 

 The results were even more favourable than the first appearances had given 

 me reason to hope, presenting, indeed, a conformity of structure almost per- 

 fect in every essential part, (excepting the column which is wanting, or at least 

 reduced to a single plate) and exhibiting an animal which would be defined 

 with sufficient precision as a Pentacrinus destitute of the column. The details 

 of this genus follow. 



