BRITISH FOSSILS. 



Decade Y. Plate I. 



SOLASTER MOEETONIS. 



[Genus SOLASTEK, Torbes, 1839. (Sub-kingdom Eadiata. Class Echinodermata. 

 Order Asteriadse. Pamily Solasteridse. ) Body stellate, multiradiate, covered with fasci- 

 culated spines; avenues bordered by three sets of spines ; suckers biserial. (Crossaster, 

 Miiller.] 



Diagnosis. S. radiis numerosis (30), angustiS) linear thus. 



Reference. Solaster Moretonis, Forbes (1854), in Morris's Catal. ; 

 2nd edit. p. 89. 



Very few species of the genus Solaster are known in the seas of 

 the passing epoch. Solaster ^aiJiJosiis and S. endeca are both 

 inhabitants of the European seas. They are many rayed star- 

 fishes of considerable dimensions, and resemble in their shape the 

 conventional figure of the sun. None had hitherto been found in 

 the fossil state until the remarkable and unique star-fish now for 

 the first time figured and described was procured by Earl Ducie. 

 It was found in a fawn-coloured freestone belonging to the Great 

 Oolite (?) at Windrush Quarry, in Gloucestershire. 



It difiers conspicuously from its living congeners in the great 

 number of its rays and their linear contour. The details of its 

 structure are such as leave little doubt respecting its generic 

 position, and I do not feel warranted in constituting a new genus 

 for its reception. If, however, the discovery of other specimens 

 should show that the dorsal surface is furnished with simple and 

 not paxillated spines, then the foundation of a new genus might be 

 necessary. 



At first glance this beautiful and well-preserved fossil seems 

 as if it were the head of a Crinoid, with outspread arms, crushed 

 flat. A nearer inspection shows that it is really a star-fish, and 

 suggests a close comparison between it and Uraster helianthus, a 

 well-known many-rayed species from the Pacific coasts of South 

 America. A still closer examination proves that it is not a member 

 [Y. i.] 5 A 



