viii PREFACE. 



Rev. A. W. Griesbach, I have visited the different localities given in this work, and with my 

 own hammer ascertained the presence of the species in the rock whence they are stated to 

 be obtained ; the most perfect confidence may therefore be placed in the notes on the 

 stratigraphical distribution of the species, as the greatest care has been taken in order to 

 arrive at the truth. 



As the Oolitic rocks of Europe were deposited in basins of greater or less extent, it 

 follows that many contemporary species which lived on different shores of these ancient 

 seas will, from time to time, be discovered ; and Foreign species, hitherto found only in 

 the Oolitic rocks of the Continent, will doubtless be discovered in strata of the same age 

 in England, and vice versa. I have, therefore, at the end of the description of the species 

 of each genus, for the purpose of easy reference in the event of new species being found, 

 appended original notes on Foreign Oolitic species of that genus most nearly allied to 

 our own forms, but which have not as yet been found in the English Oolites. The 

 Foreign species are printed in a different type, and the notes are placed at the end of the 

 section to which they belong. The short diagnosis I have given of each species is drawn 

 from authentic specimens kindly contributed by several distinguished foreign friends, 

 whose names are mentioned in connection with their specimens. A reference is made to 

 the best figures of each species extant ; and for the localities in which they are found, and 

 the collections in which the types are contained, I have consulted with much advantage 

 M. Desor's excellent ' Synopsis des Echinides Fossiles,' now in course of publication. 



It is now my pleasing duty to return my most sincere thanks, either for the loan of 

 specimens, or permission to inspect their collections in quest of new forms, to Mr. Pickering 

 and Mr. King, Malton ; Mr. Charlesworth, York ; Mr. Waite and Mr. Duck, Calne ; Mr. 

 William Buy, Sutton ; Mr. Bean, Scarborough ; the Hon. Mr. Marcham ; Mr. H. C. 

 Sorby ; Mr. W. Cunnington, Devizes ; Mr. Walton and Mr. Bush, Bath ; Mr. Mackneil, 

 Wotton-under-Edge ; the Rev. P. B. Brodie, Rowington Vicarage, near Warwick ; Mr. 

 John Lycett, Minchiuhampton ; Mr. John Jones, Gloucester ; Professor Buckman and Mr. 

 Bravender, Cirencester; Professor Morris, Professor Tennant, and Mr. J. S. Bowerbank, 

 London ; Mr. W. M. Tartt, Mr. Charles Pierson, Mr. Thomas Bodley, and Mr. Edward 

 Hull, F.G.S., Geological Survey, Cheltenham. 



I beg to tender my especial thanks to the Rev. A. W. Griesbach, of Wollaston, 

 for several valuable contributions, consisting of many fine series of different species of 

 Echinoderms from the Great Oolite, Forest Marble, and Cornbrash of Northamptonshire, 

 likewise for the labour he has bestowed in finding some rare species, and ascertaining 

 many valuable facts relative to the distribution of the species found in his county ; to 

 Mr. J. Graham Lowe, Kensington Park, for the gift of Piaster umbrella, Lamk., from 

 the Coral Rag ; and to Mrs. Lowe for the gift of the rare Asterostoma excentricum, 

 Agass. ; to Dr. Symes, Bridport, for a fine Clypeus Agassizii, from the Inferior Oolite of 

 Chideock ; to Mr. Charles Moore, Bath, for the gift of some rare specimens from the 



