FOSSIL FAUNA. 118 



PLATE XL VII. 



Fossil Remains of Crinoidea. 



In this beautiful plate Mr. Parkinson has figured a great variety of ossicula and portions 

 of stems belonging to many species and genera of Crinoidea ; the markings or sculpturing on the 

 articulating surfaces of the columnar ossicula are represented with great accuracy. It is not 

 within the plan of this work to give detailed descriptions of these numerous detached parts ; a 

 few of the most interesting objects only will be particularized. 



The specimens figured in the upper part of the plate, figs. 1 to 28, are cylindrical ossicula, 

 and portions of stems of Encrinites : those in the lower division are for the most part pentagonal, 

 and therefore belong to Pentacrinites. 



Fig. 24. The '■ Tortoise Encrinite," of Mr. Parkinson, {Marsupites Milleri, of Mantell,) from the 

 chalk of Kent. The specimen figured is the receptacle or body of a very remarkable 

 crinoideal animal which forms the link that unites the Lily-shaped animals with the 

 Star-fishes ; like the former, the receptacle is composed of articulated plates, closed 

 at the top by a tesselated plate-work with a buccal aperture, and surrounded by 

 five flexible arms ; but the original animal, like the Stai-fishes, was destitute of a 

 stem, and could float through the water at pleasure. Its true structure wns first 

 pointed out by me in 1822 ;' the name Marsitpite was suggested by the purse-like 

 form. In the figure, the base of the receptacle is uppermost. Fig. 30, is a single 

 plate of a Marsupite attached to a piece of chalk. 



Figs. 31, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 74, 75, 76, 77. These are portions of a small species of Encrinite 

 {Apiocri7ius ellipticus) peculiar to the white chalk, in some localities of which the 

 detached ossicula and peduncles are abundant. At Northfleet, near Gravesend, 

 these fossils are often met with. Figs. 75, and 76, are portions of the receptacle 

 with part of the column; figs. 31, 38, and 39, are parts of the processes of attach- 

 ment. I have never seen any specimen with the arms.- 



FiG. 34. This is part of the receptacle and stem of another small chalk Encrinite {Bourgeticrinus, 

 of D'Orbigny) from Kent ; it is remarkable for the very slight increase in bulk of 

 the receptacle, and the peculiar form of the plates of which it is composed. 



' See " Fossils of the South Downs." ^ Medals of Creation, p. 321. 



