174 Rev. L. Giiilding on the Zoology, ^'c. 



articulate column beneath the body further differ, (in the genus Penta- 

 crinns at least,) in having supplementary verticillate tendril-like organs, 

 ^Claviculce, Ray,) on the column, for clasping the branches of Gorgonice, 

 and other bodies to which they attach themselves, while the arms are 

 kept expanded to receive the food. 



Of the tribe Stellerida, (all of which want the Ambulacra and Clavicu- 

 Ise,) some, as the solid Asterias, have only suckers and accompanying 

 lateral scales for locomotion : in Ophiura the pediform arms, few and 

 multi-articulate, are adapted for walking, but not for the capture of its 

 prey: in Gorgonocephalas, Leach, they are infinitely dichotomous and 

 ramulose, and suited for both purposes. 



In all the stomach is central, and either concealed, or submembrana- 

 ceous and fixed between the brachia. In the Stellerida, the surface of 

 articulation in the joints is simple, and the perforation rude : while in the 

 Crinoidea the surface is beautifully radiate or stellate, and the muscular 

 foramen well defined. 



The following short characters may for the present serve for the genus 

 before me, which comes near perhaps to the stag's-horn Encrinite of 

 Parkinson. I shall forbear publishing any figure or detailed description 

 of this most interesting animal, until I have received an answer from Mr. 

 Miller, from whom I hope to ascertain into what families and genera he 

 has divided these multiform beings in his work on the Crinoidea, which 

 I have no opportunity of consulting here. 



Genus. Encrinus > Miller. 

 Char. gen. 



Corpus liberum, crustaceum ; basis solida, subtus suffulta, ambulacris 

 18, multi-articulatis, prehensoriis ; articulis imiformibus, apice uncinate, 

 uneinulo adjuncto. Brachia superna, quinque, longissima, cito bipar- 

 tita, multi-articulata, articulis difformibus ; articulorum facie subcirculari, 

 radiata ; foramine parvo, simplici : intus digitata. Digiti subulati, arti- 

 culati, numerosi, basi carne nidulantes. Abdomen membranaceum, inter 

 brachiorum basin situm. Os superum. 



lany from the collection of the British Museum. I suspect, from the supple- 

 mentary basal articulated organs terminated by a hook, that this genus will 

 be found to have a radiated surface of articulation, and to belong rather to the 

 Crinoidea. 



