168 Dr. F. A. Bather— A New Op/imrid 



and Palastropecten, Stiirtz (syn. Palaospondylus, Stiirtz). The last 

 of these differs from the Epphaven fossil in almost every respect, 

 but the two others present a slight general resemblance in arm- 

 structure. In each, for instance, the vertebral body has distal 

 wings, and in Laptoorthura these wings surround large subcircular 

 pores ; but in both the adambulacrals have a different position, 

 while there is no proximal wing, although the diagram of Lapworthura 

 given by Dr. Gregory and here repeated (PL VI, Fig. 4) shows 

 a minute incipient process. In the known species of these genera 

 also the disc extends further down the rays, which are relatively 

 wider, while the proportions of the various elements of the mouth- 

 skeleton are different. 



The Family Eoluididas includes Eoluidta, Stiirtz (syn. EopMurites, 

 Stiirtz), Eospondylus, Greg., Miospondyhis, Greg., Aganaster, Miller & 

 Gurley (syn. Ophiopege, G. Bohm), and perhaps Cholaster, Worthen & 

 Miller. The last two have both ventral and dorsal arm-scutes, 

 while as for the others they differ in much the same respects as 

 do Ftircaster and Laptoorthura, only to a greater extent and with no 

 superficial resemblance. 



It seems therefore safest to place this fossil in the Lapworthuridae, 

 with the diagnosis of which it agrees so far as the structure is 

 known. If the subdivision of Gregory's Family into Lapworthuridae, 

 Fnrcasteridse, and Palaeospondylidse (i.e. Palastropectinidge), as 

 proposed by Stiirtz, should be accepted, our fossil would still be 

 most appropriately placed in Lapworthuridte. It is, however, quite 

 impossible to refer it to Lapworthura itself, and a new genus must 

 be established for its reception. From a geological point of view 

 it would have been more interesting could one have referred it to 

 some known species, or at least genus, found in the Devonian of 

 Germany. But repeated comparison with the rich material in the 

 British Museum has proved this course inadmissible, whatever errors 

 there may be in the details of the present interpretation. 



Sympterura,' nov. gen. 

 A. Lapworthurid with spinulose disc extending to second arm- 

 segment, with oral skeleton of teeth, long jaws, and short mouth- 

 frames (torus not seen), with free arm-segments containing a vertebral 

 ossicle, possibly compound, grooved ventrally and provided on each 

 side with two wings, to the distal of which is attached an adambulacral 

 spiniferous element. 



Genotype. Sympterura Minveri, n.sp. 



This being the only known species, a diagnosis is impossible, but 

 attention may be directed to the relative narrowness of the rays, 

 the extension of the disc, and the length and number of the spines. 



JSblotype, a unique specimen collected by Miss Barbara Legg 

 in the blue slate of Epphaven, which is a cove between Lundy Beach 

 and Trevan Point in Portquin Bay, in the parish of St. Minver, 

 near Padstow, North Cornwall. When Mr. Howard Fox was so 

 good as to send me the specimen for examination, I acknowledged 



^ (Tuv and irrepov, ' paired wings,' and ovpd, ' tail,' as in Ophiura, Lapworthura, etc. 



