276 



Antediluvian Zoology and Botany, 



only one species, somewhat similar, but of great rarity was 

 known to him in a recent state. * Since this great work 

 appeared, the natural history of the Crinoidea, or lily-shaped 

 animals, comprising those formerly described as Encrinites 

 and Pentacrinites, has been investigated with extraordinary 

 perseverance and success by Mr. Miller. This family he sub- 

 divides into 9 genera and 25 species. The Encrinites are 

 coeval with the earliest of the secondary rocks. (Jig* 69.) 



Lily Encrinite, Org. Rem., vol. ii. pi. 14., characteristic of the Muschel-kalk, Germany; Encr. 

 moniliformis of Miller : Encr. Iilif6rmis of Lamarck. 



Mr. Parkinson has shown that the lily encrinite was com- 

 posed of nearly 30,000 distinct bones. 



Pentacrinites may be traced through the beds of the lias, 

 oolites, and chalk. Four of this family are found in the latter, 

 with the genus Marsuj)ite. In the lias of Dorsetshire they are 

 said to occur frequently, adhering to wood. (Jig' 10.) 



Yjchinidce, or Echinites. < — Advancing in the scale of organis- 

 ation, we have next to speak of a class of animals covered 

 with a bony crust, and furnished with movable spines. This 

 family is so numerous, that several naturalists, from Linnaeus 

 to Lamarck, have successively employed themselves to esta- 

 blish a lucid form of arrangement. Mr. Parkinson, in the 



* This Pentacrinite was found on the coast of Barbadoes. A recent Eu- 

 ropean Pentacrinite has since been discovered, which we have already figured 

 in Vol. II. p. 114. of this Magazine. 



