130 CATALOGUE OF THE BLASTOIDEA. 



it may quite as well be any other species as that to which Phillips considered it to be 

 related. The Rev. G. F. Whidborne has since discovered an imperfect specimen in 

 the Middle Devonian of South Devon 1 , which he has been kind enough to allow us 

 to examine (PI. IV. fig. 7). It may perhaps be a Pentremitidea. 



A fragmentary specimen from the Torbay Limestone (Middle Devonian) of Barton, 

 S. Devon, is in the collection of J. E. Lee, Esq., F.G.S. It is too ill preserved for 

 description, but has much the aspect of a Troostocrinus or Metablastus. 



The Lower Devonian (Gres de Gahard) of France has yielded a peculiar form, 

 which was named by M. Munier-Chalmas Belemnocrinus Cottaldi 2 , and has been 

 since described more fully by (Ehlert as Belocriniis Cottaldi 3 . We have already 

 expressed the opinion that this is only the elongated basal cup of a Troostocrinus 

 or Pentremitidea ; and, having been enabled to examine specimens of the type by 

 the kindness of M. Munier-Chalmas, we are inclined to refer it to the Troostoblastida?. 

 But in the absence of the upper part of the calyx, we cannot say definitely whether 

 it is a Troostocrinus or a Metablastus, though we think the latter most probable. 



In Belgium, strange to say, the Lower Devonian rocks have again yielded a solitary 

 Blastoid. Dr. Julien Fraipont has described a species from the top of the Rhenan 

 Series, or Lower Devonian, under the name of Pentremitcs FravponU, Dewalque 4 . 

 We are indebted to Professor G. Dewalque, of Liege, for the loan of the original 

 type of this species, which we believe to be a Pentremitidea closely allied to P. Efel- 

 ensis (PL V. figs. 1, 2). The inequality of the radials, on which Fraipont laid much 

 stress, appears to us to be due to the crushed state of the specimen. 



The great centre of Blastoid life during Devonian times in Europe appears to have 

 been in the north of Spain. Four genera are represented in the Lower Devonian of 

 the Asturias and of the Province of Leon, viz. Pentremitidea, Phcenoschisma, 

 Metablastus (or Troostocrinus), and Cryptoschisma. 



The first-named genus is represented by several species, one (P. clavata, Schultze, 

 sp.) being common both to the Spanish and to the Eifel beds. Phcenoschisma is 

 represented by three species, one of which, P. mobile, nobis, is the largest known 

 form of the genus (PL XL fig. 1), while no other Cryptcscldsma is known. In otber 

 words, we have in the Spanish beds the first appearance of two genera, Phcenoschisma 

 and Cryptosohisma, the latter being peculiar to them, either the continued existence 

 of Troostocrinus or its replacement by Metablastus, and the great development 

 attained by Pentremitidea. 



The two horizons represented by these fossils, the Calcaire de Ferroiics and the 

 Sabero deposits, are probably of nearly the same geological age. They belong, accor- 



' Oeol. Mag. 1881, vol. viii. p. 288. 



2 Joiirn. Conchyl. L876, vol. xvi. p. 105. 



3 Bull. 8oc. Gt ; ol. France, 1882, vol. x. p. 302, t. 9. f. 3, a-e. 



4 Ann. Soc. Gtol. Bclgiquc, 1881, vol. xi. p. 114. 



