SILURIAN ENCRINITES. 



673 



specimen figured, is in this respect not quite so perfect as another from which the outline 

 (fig. 3 a.) is taken. 



The column was probably short ; its joints are prominent in the middle and thinnest near 

 the body. 



The arrangement of the lower plates in Eucalyptocrinites of Goldfuss, (Petrif., PI. 64. 

 f. 7«) is so very similar to that above noticed, that it is difficult to suppose the genera so en- 

 tirely distinct as would be the case if Eucalyptocrinites be really, as Goldfuss supposes, destitute 

 of a column. The upper part of the body of Eucalyptocrinites is not figured by Goldfuss, who 

 ranks as pelvic, the plates corresponding to what are here compared to the first costals of 

 Actinocrinus 1 . 



Actinocrinites, Miller. 



Div. 1. Fingers longitudinally sutured, or composed of two rows of plates. 



Actinocrinites moniliformis, Miller, p. 115. PI. 18. f. 4. ? 



The pelvic plates are not very clearly seen in these specimens : the first and second costals 

 and the scapula are, as represented in the drawing, unusually elongated and nearly of equal 

 size ; two broad plates (arms) attach themselves to each upper lateral edge of the scapula ; 

 the upper of these, similar in form to the scapula, supports externally one finger and internally 

 a hand of two broad plates, which again throws off one and finally divides into two other 

 fingers. 



Thus there are forty very long and equal fingers; the manner of their ramification may be 

 seen on the plate ; each finger is formed of two rows of very numerous joints, and furnished 

 with very expanded lateral tentacula. 



The costal, intercostal, brachial, and interbrachial plates are more nearly equal in size than 

 in any other species yet described ; a broad rounded ridge traverses the costals to the base 

 of the scapula, and, there bifurcating, runs along the arm and hand plates. 



The column (which was the only part completely known to Miller) consists of joints which 

 project in the middle, and at a distance from the body appear like beads ; near the body they 

 are thinner and alternately less and more prominent. This form of column is not sufficiently 

 peculiar to furnish specific characters. Mr. Miller himself is in error when he speaks of 

 this species as belonging also to the Mountain Limestone, and Goldfuss has unfortunately re- 

 ferred to this species as a syncnym of his Cyathocrinus pinnatus, from which in all that re- 

 gards the body and fingers it is perfectly distinct. 

 Actinocrinites, Div. 2. Fingers composed of one row of joints. 

 Actinocrinites simplex, Phil. PI. 18. f. 8. 



The pelvic, costal, and other plates of the body agree with Miller's technical formula of 

 Actinocrinites', otherwise the ten fingers, externally round, with wide plumose lateral tenta- 

 cula, would have led me to doubt the propriety of including it in the genus. The surface is 



1 Several specimens of this very remarkable species have recently been found in the Dudley Limestone, the 

 finest of which, PI. 17. f. 3., was lent to me by Mr. Cartwright of Dudley. Another specimen is the property 

 of Mr. H. W. Inwood. When first discovered, the fossil seemed to convey the impression of two Encrinites 

 clasped together, but Mr. J. Sowerby at once pointed out those distinctive characters which Professor Phillips 

 has since had the kindness to describe. I must state, in justice to Mr. Sowerby, that without his discrimination 

 of the different forms of Crinoidea, which he had selected and drawn with much fidelity and spirit, before they 

 were examined by Professor Phillips, this portion of my work would have been much less perfect. — R. I. M. 



