258 Prof. Be K^ninck. — New British Echinoderms. 



breccia, this association must be looked upon as resulting from other 

 causes than the predatory habits of the bear or wolf,^ 



The occurrence of several vertebrae and ribs of the mammoth in 

 an exceedingly small area in the Shandon breccia, a space little more 

 than a square yard, and also the unworn and ungnawed condition of 

 these bones, lead to the inference that the whole skeleton of a mam- 

 moth had been embedded in this substance. Four of the vertebrae 

 were portions of the continuous series of the spinal column ; and 

 had circumstances permitted further explorations in the breccia, 

 other bones of this skeleton would doubtless have been discovered. 



The body of the animal to which these bones appertame.d must 

 either have been transported here, or the creature must have died on 

 the spot where its bones occur. With reference to the former case, 

 the agency of water only could have eflfected this, but every circum- 

 stance in connection with these bones is antagonistic to the idea of 

 such a mode of transport. Nothing remains, therefore, but to accept 

 the conclusion that the animal died on the spot where its bones are 

 found. The features which are seen in connection with the limestone 

 of Shandon lend support to the conclusion that mammoths died here. 

 During the time when the breccias were being formed, the limestone 

 exhibited projecting ledges of rock, having beneath them open 

 spaces which would afford shelter for mammoths and other animals ; 

 and many wild creatures, at the present time, when they find death 

 approaching, seek for shelters of this kind. Subsequently these rock- 

 shelters of Shandon have undergone great changes, in consequence 

 of the falling of overhanging masses, fragments of which accumu- 

 lating above the skeletons, enveloped them in the hard substance 

 from whence the bones are now obtained. 



II. — On some New and Eemarkabxe Echinodeems from the 

 Bkitish Palaeozoic Eocks.^ 



By Professor de Koninck, M.D., For. Mem. Gaol, Sec. Lond. 



(PLATE VII.) 



DURING one of my last visits to England I had the opportunity 

 of visiting a great number of palseontological collections. 

 Amongst those which afforded me the greatest pleasure, I would 

 specially mention the collections of Mr. Edward Wood, F.G.S., at 

 Eichmond, in Yorkshire, and of Mr. John Gray, at Hagley, near 

 Stourbridge.' 



These gentlemen, who honour me with their friendship, and who 

 gave me the most hospitable reception that one can possibly wish for, 



' The abundance of the remains of the Megaceros Sibernicus in Ireland may 

 probably be attributed to the absence of the hysena and the lion from the Pleisto- 

 cene fauna of this country ; and also to the early separation of the country from 

 Great Britain. 



^ Translated from the Bulletin de la Academie Koyal, Bruxelles, 2nd series, tome 

 xxviii., pp. 57-65. Planche. 1869. 



^ Mr. John Gray's very choice collection of Upper Silurian fossils has since been 

 acquired for the British Museum. 



