332 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



Wachsmuthicrinus bernhardinae n. sp. 



Plate XLIV, figs. 6-7 



The largest species of the genus. Crown elongate, spreading rapidly to 

 level of first ramule, where height to width is 1 to 1.1, and spread of calyx, 1 to 

 3.5. Rays rounded, interbrachial areas deeply depressed. Cross-section quin- 

 quelobate; side outline curved. Sutures strongly sinuous. Surface smooth, 

 with very small nodes on lower and many of the upper axillaries. Interbrachial 

 system strongly developed, there being 8 or 10 good-sized plates in the primary 

 axil, and nearly as many smaller ones in the second, and some even in the third. 

 Rami equal, and deeply rounded. After the first two or three, which have inter- 

 vals of 4 and 3 brachials, the ramules occur on every second plate throughout 

 the rays, to the number of over sixteen before disappearing. Otherwise as in 

 W. thiemei. Height of crown (allowing - for foreshortening by pressure), 85 

 mm. ; width, 46 mm. ; diameter of base, 13 mm. ; of column, 1 1 mm. 



The detached hase shown by Plate XLIV, figures Ja-c, has been in my collection for about 

 forty years along with numerous specimens of W . thiemei, but labelled as a probable new 

 species on account of its size so entirely out of proportion to that of other known specimens. 

 Finally however, this was confirmed by the discovery of the remarkably perfect specimen 

 which furnishes all the other characters. It is somewhat crushed at the base, otherwise the 

 crown would appear longer. In its rounded rays and almost complete obliteration of nodes 

 and angularities it differs markedly from all specimens of W . thiemei, as it does also in the 

 profuse development of interbrachials, which produces a separation of the rays and their 

 divisions different from that seen even in the specimens of that species having interbrachials. 

 No other specimens have been found. 



The magnificent specimen illustrated by figure 6 on Plate XLIV was found by Mrs. Bern- 

 hardina Wachsmuth, widow of my early associate for whom the genus is named ; a noble 

 woman, to whose memory I esteem it a privilege to dedicate this fine species. 



Type. Author's collection. 



Horizon and locality. Lower Carboniferous, Lower Burlington limestone ; Burlington, 

 Iowa. 



