4 Professor R. Burchhardf — Triassic Starfishes. 



Hyperodtqjedon. Those facing the observer with their upper sides- 

 have left teat-like i^rojections in the stone ; others appear as funnel- 

 shaped depressions made by a massive bod}'. 



In shape they are star-like pentagons, of about the same form 

 as the bodies of Euryalidje. 



In diagonal opposition to the main portion of the star-shapecT 

 bed lies a small pentagonal plate consisting of five parts, whicb 

 radiate from a central piece. I believe I have also detected some 

 radiating stride on the outer pentagon in a few exceptionally well- 

 preserved examples, as well as some finer strife, skirting the margin' 

 of the extreme pentagonal radially, where they arrange themselves- 

 in regular order. Besides these pentagons I noticed some series of 

 smaller segments of about ^ ram., which to tlie number of six unite 

 with each other, though rarely more, in which latter case they are 

 very difficult of detection. 



The conclusions I have ai'rived at as to these structures, and ta 

 which I give expression quite reservedly to specialists engaged in. 

 this branch of geology, are as follows : — 



These pentagonal forms are empty caverns left by Echinoderms- 

 of a Eurylaid shape, having peripheral arms, either simple or 

 forked. To whatever group of Echinoderms they may belong will 

 be a matter of investigation by specialists. Under no circumstances 

 are they parts of ITyperodapedon. The two pentagonal sets of which 

 they are composed, together with their projecting limbs, are forms- 

 which do not resemble any other type of the classes of invertebrates. 

 In favour also of this inference is their enormous quantity and the 

 great diversity in their sizes. The extreme delicacy of these 

 impressions is probably the reason why my examination of the 

 slabs did not yield a better result, as might have been the case if the 

 stones had been more recently quarried or specially prepared for this- 

 purpose. 



That no remains of their external skeletons are preserved, is in> 

 no way detrimental to this hypothesis, as a corollary to this is found 

 in the case of those hollows left by Elgin reptiles, which E. T. 

 Newton so admirably described from casts taken from their natural 

 moulds. No other fossils having been found in these localities except 

 reptiles, is also an argument in favour of such an interpretation as 

 the above. 



From a like presence of these casts in both localities, the Elgin 

 sandstones, which Smith Woodward quotes as " supposed Trias." 

 should be of the same age as the sandstones belonging to the Upper 

 Triassic of Warwickshire and Shropshire. 



Interesting as may be the task of pursuing this highly attractive 

 geological question, it is a matter of real regret that I am compelled 

 to deny myself the pleasure of conducting the investigation of this 

 subject further. I must confine myself here to the statement only, 

 that I have good reason for believing that I have observed similar 

 petrefactions of organic origin in some rather imperfect fragments 

 from the Maleri deposits in India. 



