202 



approaching nearest in sculpture to Palinurus, and equaling in size 

 the sea crawfish : and two others are peculiarly interesting from their 

 exhibiting the tips of the four larger branchiae, and of the four smaller 

 ones below, pointing towards the situation of the heart, and proving, 

 the author observes, that this Crustacean did not belong to the Am- 

 phipoda, but to the highest division of the Macroura, of the arctic 

 forms of which it reminds the observer. 



Radiata. 



Ophiura Egertoni. Oph. radiis tereti-subulatis, disco subplano, 

 rotundato. 



This species, Mr. Broderip states, approaches very nearly to the re- 

 cent Ophiura texturata, and differs from Ophiura Milleri of Phillips, 

 in as much as, among other differences, the disk of the latter is lobated 

 according to the figure given in the " Geologyof the Yorkshire Coast." 

 There is no description, but there is authority for considering the 

 figure to be correct, though it is stated to have been drawn from se- 

 parate parts. The specimens were found about half a mile west of Brid- 

 port harbour, in masses of micaceous sandstone fallen from the cliffs. 



CiDAKis Bkchei. Cid. testd suhglobosd, nmmillis parvulis, spitiis 

 elongatis, aculeatis. 



This fossil the author considers may be identical with that figured 

 in the Geological Transactions, Second Series, vol. ii. PI. IV. as an 

 Echinus. 



A letter from Sir Philip de Mai pas Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P,, 

 V.P.G.S., addressed to the President, " On the Discovery of Ichthyo- 

 lites in the South-western Portion of the North Staffordshire Coal- 

 field," was then read. 



The part of the coal-field in which the ichthyolites occur is called 

 Silverdale, and consists of the following beds : 



Superficial covering. 



1. Argillaceous shale, generally of a lightish colour and soft tex- 

 ture. 



2. Ditto, of harder texture, and more calcareous. 



3. Ditto, black, and highly fissile. 



4. Ditto, more compact, containing nodules of ironstone. 



5. Ironstone, extensively wrought. 



Beds 1 and 2 abound in vegetable remains, and the upper portion 

 may be distinguished by the frequent occurrence of Stigmaria Jicoides. 

 The ichthyolites are principally contained in No. 4, and consist of 

 teeth, palatal bones, and scales, belonging to the Placoidian order, 

 and to the Sauroid and Lepidoidian families of the Ganoidian order 

 of M. Agassiz. 



Some of the scales correspond precisely with those of the Megalich- 

 thys, described by Dr. Hibbert, from Burdiehouse near Edinburgh* : 

 but the plants associated with the ichthyolites, the author states on 



* Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. xiii. pi. 8. fig. 3. 

 and pi. 11. figs. 2, 7, 8. 



