URASTER. 



167 



strength, which supported likewise a great number of small, stout, blunt spines, that 

 appear to have passed round the sides of the rays and clothed the dorsal surface, as 

 a few are seen hi situ on the integument. This spinous condition of the tegumentary 

 membrane has suggested the specific name given to this new form of Uraster. 



Affinities and Differences. — This Starfish diff'ers so much from the other fossil species 

 of the genus TJraster that it may possibly prove to be the type of a new genus, when 

 more details are learned anent the anatomy of the skeleton by the discovery of new 

 materials. In the mean time I have grouped it with the Urasters which it so closely 

 resembles in its general characters, whilst it differs in others, as, for instance, the beaded 

 ridge of ossicles which bound the ambulacral area. 



Locality and Stratic/raphical Position. — TJraster spini^er was collected from the 

 shelly beds of the Forest Marble, near Road, Wilts. It appears to be rare, as I can find 

 no record of any other Star-fish found in the fossiliferous beds of that locality. 



The annexed beautiful figure was drawn on wood by the late Mr. C. R. Bone, and 

 engraved by Mr. Lee, for the ' Transactions of the Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club,' 



X 2 



Fig. 41. — Uraster spiniger, Wright. Magnified two diameters. 



to illustrate my notes on the specimen which I read at one of the meetings of the Club 

 some time ago. I am indebted to my old kind friend, Dr. W. H. Paine, the worthy 



