NOTE. 



The Manuscript of this work in its present form was received at Cam- 

 bridge for publication September 1, 1894. Although in press ever since 

 then, no part of it has been published until now, and the date of the work, 

 for bibliographic purposes, will be that which appears on the title-page. 

 During the long time that has been consumed in the printing of the plates 

 and letter-press work since the completion of the text, many new species 

 of Crinoids have been described by American authors, among which some 

 of those herein mentioned as new are included, and thus anticipated. No 

 attempt has been made to cover these cases by modifying the text, nor 

 have any questions arising upon publications appearing subsequent to the 

 above date been considered here. In a work of this size while in press 

 changes could not be made to keep pace with current researches, and the 

 date of delivery of the Manuscript for publication was therefore taken by 

 the authors as final, so far as they were concerned. 



It is a source of extreme regret that my learned colleague and long-time 

 friend. Dr. Charles Wachsmuth, did not live to see the publication of this 

 Monograph, to which he had devoted so many years of assiduous labor. 

 Never a robust or healthy man, his last few years were almost a continual 

 struggle against disease. His strength gradually failed, and he passed away 

 on February 7, 1896, at the age of sixty-seven years. 



Dr. Wachsmuth was a native of Hanover, Germany. He came to the 

 United States in 1852, and soon after engaged in mercantile pursuits at 

 Burlington, Iowa, which became his permanent home. Failing health in 

 time compelled him to relinquish business, and for the last thirty years he 

 applied himself to the study of the Crinoids, first as a recreation and to 

 secure outdoor exercise, and afterwards as his life work, with all the ardor 

 of a scientific devotee. His keen powers of observation, sagacious judgment, 

 and indefatigable energy have left their impress upon the works which have 

 been brought out by us. While his death is a loss to Science not easily 

 repaired, it is to none so great — aside from his family — as to the friend 

 with whom he had worked in pleasant collaboration for so many years. It 

 is with a melancholy pleasure that I avail myself of the opportunity afforded 

 by the appearance of his last work to pay this slight tribute to his memory. 



FRANK SPRINGER. 



Las Vegas, New Mexico, 1897. 



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