290 THE GEOLOGIST. 



present seas) and a new species of rentacrinitcs (P. rolusttis, Wright). 

 Here, too, at the base of the Marlstone, Mr. Gavc}^ found two previously 

 undescribed forms of star-fish, the Urader Gaveyi and the Tropidader 

 rpedimtus, both of which were figured and described by the late lamented 

 Professor Edward Forbes, in the 3rd Decade of the Geological Survey. 

 With them he obtained an entire and beautiful large Cidaris Edwardsii 

 (Wright), with the attached spines, a rarity in this condition in any 

 formation, and especially in the Lias, where Echinoderms are very 

 scarce ; although we have met with specimens of some small species, 

 with the spines attached, in the upper, middle, and lower Lias. 



These fossil star-fish are often obtained grouped together, as living ones 

 are now, with their short spines adhering to the rays. Indeed, they 

 seem to have been more than usually abundant at this spot — at least, 

 such is the case with the Troindmter pectinaiua. Two or three species 

 of small Crustacea, chie% belonging to the genus Astacus, were also pro- 

 cured there in the argillaceous nodules, irregularly distributed throughout 

 the clay. The most interesting we have seen is one in our possession, 

 nearly allied to the recent genus -Sga, belonging to the order Isopoda, 

 and which, like others of this group, was probably parasitic upon fish. 

 There were also a great number and variety of marine shells in a re- 

 markably good state of preservation, and these were equally abundant 

 at Hewlett's Hill, some of them retainiag the actual shell. Although 

 the railway at Campden has been long since finished, and the excava- 

 tions for the reservoirs at Hewlett completed, the spoil-banks are well 

 worth a careful search, and many pretty specimens may still be ob- 

 tained. This portion of the Lias is particularly rich in fossils wherever 

 it occurs ; only, from its position in Gloucestershire, it is seldom ex- 

 posed, and therefore cannot be so often searched as the Marlstone and 

 the lower Lias. Similar beds were laid open in XorthamptoB shire during 

 the construction of the famous Kilsby tunnel ; and the organic remains 

 there detected were nearly identical, and equally abundant. Among 

 the most characteristic shells at all these localities, the following may 

 be mentioned — PhoJadomya IfurcJiisojiicd, Cardium trnncatiim, FUcahda 

 sjnnosa, Modiola scdlp'um, Area Biiclcmani mid A. pidclira^ Fedcn 

 (vqmi'aJvis, Perna {CrenatuJa) venln'cosa, Leda rostral is, Jlippopodium 

 M.S., JVucuIa, showing cast of the intestinal canal ; Troclms imlricafus, 

 Ammonites Hcnlcyi, A. pJanicostatus, and a small grooved Eelemnite. 

 Many of these arc grouped together in clusters, csnecially Cardmm 



