2QQ PKOF. W. J. SOLLAS ON BRAHMACKINUS [May I9OO, 



posterior plane ; surrounding these follow a large number of plates 

 not disposed according to any general law, which complete the plating 

 of the disc ; towards the arms they diminish in size, but between 

 the arms, on passing over the ambitus to meet the interradials, 

 they become larger. A series of small plates is continued between 

 the members of each pair of arms,, the terminal single plate of the 

 series lying between the second distichals. A single series of 

 minute plates bounds the outer side of the distichals ; the first plate 

 of this series is in contact with an interradial ; the last overlies 

 the covering-plates of the arm, where these pass into the disc, and 

 terminates in a fractured surface, which exposes the end of a deep 

 groove, somewhat cylindrical in form, excavated in its lower half. 

 This, however, is clearly seen in one instance alone : it may possibly 

 represent a reduced pinnule of the first distichal that has become 

 adherent to the disc. 



All the plates of the dorsal cup are very thick and massive, and 

 the sutures, which are very obvious and slightly depressed, lie at 

 the bottom of deep depressions. Most of the plates of the ventral 

 disc are likewise thickened, each into a single tubercle, but small 

 intercalated plates occur, which are devoid of tubercles. 



The arms are not preserved, but since the palmars, when present, 

 are found to be united with the disc by marginal plates, it may be 

 presumed that these were not freely movable, and if so the number 

 of the arms would be twenty (5 x 4). 



This remarkable crinoid forcibly recalls in structure and general 

 character the genus Platycrinns, with examples of which I found it 

 associated both in the Oxford University Museum and the British 

 Museum. The incorporation of the costal and distichal plates in 

 the calyx affords, however, a very obvious distinction, and there 

 can be little doubt that the present form represents a new generic 

 type, for which I propose the name Brahmacrinus, suggested 

 by its resemblance in general appearance to the capital of a column 

 of a Hindu temple. 



In some forms of Platycrinus, and more particularly in the allied 

 genus Pleurocrinus, the costal and first distichal, although projecting 

 beyond the outline of the calyx, are immovably attached to it by 

 adbrachial plates and plates of the ventral disc. But in all such 

 cases it will be found that the costal is completely bounded by the 

 radial and first distichal, and never comes into contact with 

 an interradial plate, as it constantly does in Bralimacrinus. 



The question will naturally arise as to the family with which 

 Bralimacrinus should be associated. If its general appearance 

 reminds us of the Platycrinidae, the analysis of the calyx as in- 

 evitably suggests the Melocrinidae, from the members of which it is 

 chiefly distinguished by the comparatively small size of the costal 

 and distichal plates ; the Melocrinid genus which approaches it 

 most closely is iStereocrinus, but this differs not only in the much 

 greater size of the costals and radials, but also by the presence of 



