found at Lyme Regis, in Dorsetshire. 173 



tacean must have been of large size^ as large as that of the common Palinurus 

 (sea crawfish of the shops) *. Prom the lias. 



A series of specimens next claims our attention ; but the state in which 

 they are renders it difficult to lay down any generic character. The remains 

 are those of another macrourous decapod of a rather small size. The chelae 

 and legs are washed away, and the carapace is very obscure. Two of 

 the specimens however present a curious phaenomenon. In these the 

 accurate observer will see the breathing organs of this delicate crustacean, 

 after an inhumation of thousands of years, presented to him in a petrified 

 state. The tips of the four larger branchiae, and of the four smaller ones 

 below, may be observed pointing- towards the situation of the heart, and 

 these branchise show that the crustacean before us did not belong to the 

 Amphipoda, but to the highest division of the Macroura. The spines are like 

 those of Crangon salehrosus ; and the general organization, so far as it is 

 presented to our view, reminds us of the arctic forms of the Macroura. I am 

 aware that the information afforded by these specimens, though it is of a 

 highly interesting nature, is only scanty ; but there is enough to satisfy me, 

 and indeed to convince my friend Mr. Owen, whose attention to this branch 

 of natural history makes his opinion of great value, that these crustaceans 

 evidently belonged to the salicoques of Latreille. I am inclined to think that 

 two of the specimens are specifically different from the others, and in one 

 a monodactylous leg is preserved. Two of those which afford the best 

 information on the subject of the petrified branchiae are figured PI. XII. 

 fig. 3, 4. 



These crustaceans were found immediately below the town of Lyme, on 

 Broad-ledge, which consists of a bed of finely laminated lias shale. They 

 were associated with Pholidophori, viz. Bechei, latiusculus and medius; and 

 also with several species of Tetragonolepis and Dapedium, and with remains 

 of Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus. 



2. Radiata. 

 Genus Ophiura. 



The specimens of this Ophiura, which I believe to be undescribed, were 

 found about half a mile west of Bridport Harbour, in masses of micaceous 

 sandstone which had fallen from the cliff to the beach. (See Mr. de la Beche's 

 section. Trans. Geol. Soc. vol. ii. pi. III. 2d series.) Mr. Lonsdale considers 



* The figure of the imperfect remains of a crustaceous animal, from the cabinet of Miss Phil- 

 pot of Lyme (Trans. Geol. Soc. vol. iv. PI. II. 2d series), does not afford sufficient information 

 for accurate comparison. 



