135 



The Comatulae, as an approximating link, retaining the auxiliary side arms 

 observable in the Pentacrini, have them proceeding from the pelvis, and possess 

 no column. Yet these auxiliary side arms, the plated integument extending 

 over the abdominal cavity, having in its centre the mouth capable of elongation 

 into a proboscis, and the articulation and formation of the arm joints and ten- 

 tacula, indicate their retaining too great an affinity to the Crinoidea than to 

 render the transition to the Euryale satisfactory, and some intermediate link 

 seems still wanting. 



The Marsupite, by having no column, no auxiliary side arms, and retaining 

 the integument, appears to form the immediate link between the Crinoidea 

 inarticulata and the Euryale. 



Mr. PARKINSON, although perhaps somewhat inconsistently, after including 

 the column in his generic character of the Encrinites and Pentacrinites, has yet 

 retained (he Marsupite among them, and furnished a good figure and descrip- 

 tion of it, as the Tortoise Encrinite. 



Mr. GIDEON MANTELL, the author of a work on the Southdown fossils, 

 which will shortly appear before the public, has (from his vicinity to the chalk 

 pits of Brighton, where the Marsupite occurs) given its remains a due share of 

 attention. It being generally found deprived of arms, and without the plated 

 integument spreading over the space between the scapulae, (thereby dis- 

 playing the interior of the abdominal cavity) and in this mutilated state some- 

 what resembling a purse, induced Mr.MANTELL to give it the name Marsupites, 

 from the Latin. I think this name so well chosen, that I have taken the liberty 

 to adopt it. 



I know of but one species belonging to this genus ; but it may be well to 

 observe that, on account of an imperfect anatomical investigation, Cyathocri- 

 nites rugosus, of the transition limestone, from a similarity of markings on the 

 plates and conformity of shape in the costals and scapula, has been considered 

 as a species belonging to this genus, although it is evident that this Cyathocri- 

 nite possessed a regular column, which the Marsupite never could have done ; 

 and that the arrangement and number of the plates is very different in that 

 Cyathocrinites and the Marsupite. 



