10 Prof, H. A. Nicholson — New Devonian Fossils. 



Dr. Eoemer therefore concludes it to have been soft and membrana- 

 ceous, and not covered with hard plates (as in Lepidaster, Goniaster, 

 etc.). 



When perfect, H. Khenanus must have measured six inches across 

 (150 mm.), rather more than three times the size of Mr. Champer- 

 nowne's specimen. Size, however, cannot be looked upon as of much 

 importance, nor can the number of arms in this family be relied 

 upon as conclusive. 



In Lepidaster yfQ have seen, by Forbes's description, the arms were 

 clothed, as in Goniaster and Oreaster, with external calcareous plates, 

 reminding one of the arms of the Crinoids ; the disk is also covered 

 with polygonal plates, and is twice as broad as the arms are long. 

 TrocMtaster is, at present, only known by its outline, and therefore 

 cannot be taken into consideration. 



I am inclined therefore to refer Mr. Champernowne's specimen 

 to Eoemer's genus HeliantJiaster, in preference to the alternative 

 of creating a new genus for its reception. Its fortuitous resem- 

 blance to a fern has induced me to propose the specific appellation 

 of filiciformis as less objectionable than the alternative of giving it 

 a topographical designation, the appropriateness of which might 

 shortly be obliterated by its being found by Mr. Champernowne and 

 other ardent geologists in half a dozen other localities in South Devon. 



V. — Desokiptions of New Fossils feom the Devonian 



FOEMATION of CaNADA WeST. 



By H. Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., D.Sc, F.E.S.E. ; 



Professor of Natural History in University College, Toronto. 



(PLATE II.) 



HAVING- been engaged for some time in collecting and studying 

 the organic remains of the Corniferous Limestone and 

 Hamilton formation of the western portion of the Province of 

 Ontario, I propose, in the present communication, to describe some 

 of the new species which have come under my notice, these being 

 chiefly referable to the groups of the Corals and the Polyzoa. A 

 portion of the new material which I have collected I have already 

 described in the "Annals of Natural History " and in the "Canadian 

 Naturalist," and a portion still remains for more extended examina- 

 tion. Some of the species here described, also, will be fully illus- 

 trated in the detailed Eeport on the Devonian Fossils of Western 

 Canada, which I am now preparing for the Government of the 

 Province of Ontario. Under any circumstances, the Corniferous 

 and Hamilton deposits of Western Canada are so richly fossiliferous, 

 that more extensive investigations than I have been able to carry 

 out would certainly result in the bringing to light of numerous new 

 forms of animal life. The total num.ber of species comprised in 

 my collections from these formations amounts to about one hundred 

 and sixty or seventy, of which between thirty and forty are ap- 

 parently new; but in the case of some of these the materials at 

 present in my hands are not sufficient for description. Of this 

 number no less than seventy-five belong to the corals, about forty 



