Mr. E. A. Smith on a new Form of Ophiuride. 463 
Crinotds. They unquestionably form a distinct group of 
Crinoids ; and I therefore propose for it, from the fact that its 
representatives lived almost exclusively in Paleozoic times, 
the name ‘ Paleocrinoidea,” as a suborder of the Crinoids. 
Whether Encrinus, Apiocrinus, and allied genera of the 
Jurassic time are to be brought within this suborder, depends 
upon the construction of their vault, which cannot at present 
be determined. Should they prove to have a solid dome, they 
would be included here; and this might detract slightly from 
the technical exactness of the name Palwocrinoidea. Still, as 
its characteristic types were so prevalent, and constituted so 
important a part of the life of Paleozoic ages, and the Meso- 
zoic forms are comparatively so insignificant in variety and 
abundance, the term would nevertheless be significant and 
appropriate. 
I shall not attempt to separate the Paleocrinoidea into 
families, as [ think our present knowledge is hardly sufficient 
for such a work; but I feel convinced that it must be based 
mainly upon the diversities in the structure of the vault, not 
upon the construction of the dorsal cup, nor upon the struc- 
ture of the arms or column, upon which former authors have 
founded such divisions. 
The discoveries which have been made within the last few 
years, both in recent and extinct Crinoids, are really wonder- 
ful, and lead us to expect large additions to our knowledge in 
the future. Lobserve, in the February number of the ‘American 
Jourhal,’ that Prof. Thomson has discovered at great depth two 
new genera of Apiocrinide, one of them resembling in super- 
ficial structure the genus Poteriocrinus. This may throw new 
light upon the physiology of the extinct types and solve some 
of the questions herein suggested. Other discoveries will 
follow. ‘The labours of the zoologist will supplement the 
researches of the paleontologist; and through their pro- 
perly united efforts we may hope in time to comprehend 
the structure of the Paleeocrinoidea almost as perfectly as if 
they were yet living in our oceans. 
LIl.—Deseription of a remarkable new Form of Ophiuride 
from Ceylon. By Epaar A. Situ, F.Z.8. 
THE specimen about to be described was presented to the 
British Museum in 1875 by Mr. E. W. H. Holdsworth, by 
whom it was collected at Ceylon. 
Apparently it is closely related to the genus Ophiothela of 
