234 



[Nov. 1, 1843.] 



and the converging ossicula, at their bases, are comparatively large 

 and broad. The rays are short, broad and tapering. The inferior 

 ray-plates are very small and triangular. The lateral ones encroach 

 on those below, and unite with them beneath. Of the spine« which 

 were probably numerous and small, some obscure traces only remain 

 Ihis is a true Ophiura. It was discovered by Dr. Murray of Scar' 

 borough, m the marlstone at Staithes. Mus. Murray 



4. Ophiura serrata, Roemer, Kret. Geb. tab. vi. f 23 —The infe 

 nor ray-plates are petaloid rounded above, tapering and subtruncate 

 below. The lateral ray-plates do not touch, and they bear upon 

 their upper margins strong conic spines, which do not quite equal 

 the plates in length, and appear to have been six or seven in a row 

 1 he species appears to have borne a close resemblance to the recent 

 Ophiura albida of the European seas. It appears to be identical 

 with the Ophmra serrata, described by Roemer as occurring in the 

 chalk-marl of Northern Germany. The fragment of an arm fn white 

 chalk IS preserved m the Geological Society's Museum, to which it 

 was presented by Mr. Tennant. It is possible that Mr Fitch's 

 Ophiurite belongs to this species. I have seen several loose ossicula 

 ot Ophiura serrata from the chalk. 



.v.^'r^^'J ^''^ ^^'^'P Egerton's collection, there is an Ophiurite from 

 the Oxford day, which may possibly be distinct from any of those 

 described. The spines are very short, slender and acute ; the rays 

 arelong. It appears to belong to the genus Amphiura, but the re- 

 mains are too imperfect to warrant the constitution of a species until 

 better specimens are procured. 



The following table exhibits all the instances of fossil Ophiuridje 

 known to the author, arranged in ascending chronological order 

 From It It will be seen that this tribe of animals is present in the 

 earhest tossiliferous formations, as well as in those of the several sv 

 stems up to the newest strata. The generic forms do not appear to 

 have materially varied from those now existing. 



Table of Fossil Ophiurid^. 



Genus. 



Ophiura ? 



(Acroura, Ag.) 



Aspidicra, Ag 



Ophioderma, M. & T 

 Ophioderma, M. & T 



Ophiura, Lam 



Ophioderma, M. & T 



Amphiura, Forb 



Amphiura ? 



Ophiura, Lam. ? . . . . 

 Ophiura, Lam. ? . . . . 



Ophiura, Lam 



Ophiura, Lam. ? . . . . 



Ophiura, Lam 



Ophiura, Lam. ? . . . . 

 Ophiura, Lam 



Species. 



Salteri, Sedgwick 



prisca {Ophiura, sp.), Munst, 

 loricata {Ophiura, sp.), Munst, 



tenuibrachiata, Forb 



3Iilleri, PhiU [ 



Murravii, Forb 



Egertoni {Ophiura, sp.), Brod. 



Pratti, Forb 



sp 



speciosa, Munster 



carinata, Munster 



Cunliffei, Forb. MSS 



granulosa, Roemer 



serrata, Roemer / 



sp. nov 



Ubanotica, Koenig 



CocNTRT. Formation. 



Wales. . . 

 Germany 

 Germany 

 England. , 

 England. : 

 England. , 

 England. , 

 England. . 

 England. , 

 Germany 

 Germany 



Is. India.. . 

 Hanover. . 



[Hanover.. 



England.. 



England . . 



Syna . . . . 



Cambrian slates , 

 Muschelkalk . . 

 Muschelkalk . . 

 Lias 



Lias 



Marlstone 



Inf. oolite 



Oxford clay 

 Oxford clay 

 Solenhofen slate. 

 Solenhofen slate. 

 Greensand .... 

 Lower chalk.. .. 

 Lower chalk . . i 

 White chalk.. / 

 London clay.. .. 

 Miocene ? 



Reference. 



Sedgw. G. P.iv.pt. 1 .p.220 

 Goldf.t.lxii.f.6. 

 Goldf. t. Ixii. f. 7. 



PhiLGeol. Y.i.t. 13.f.3 



Brod. G.T.2.ser.v.t. 12. 

 f. 5,6. 



Goldf. t. Ixii. f. 4. 

 Goldf. t. Mi. f. 5. 

 (in Mus. G. Soc.) 

 Roemer, K. G. t. vi. f. 22 

 Roemer, K. G. t. vi. f. 23 

 WethereU, G. P. i. p. 417 

 Koenig, Ic. Sect. p. 2. f. 2 



