of Edinburgh, Session 1862-63. 
101 
3. On a new fossil Ophiuridan, from Post-pliocene strata of 
the valley of the Forth. By Professor Allman. 
I am indebted to one of our University students, Mr Peter 
Lawson, for a specimen of a star-fish, which he informed me had 
been found, aloDg with many others, in a deposit of brick-clay near 
Dunbar. The interest of this fact was a sufficient inducement to 
cause me at once to visit the locality where the star-fish was ob- 
tained, and where, by the kindness of Mr France, the proprietor of 
the brick-works, I succeeded in obtaining good specimens of the 
fossil. 
Notwithstanding some very marked characters, which might 
possibly be regarded as possessing higher than specific value, I pre- 
fer referring the star-fish of the Dunbar brick-clay to Muller and 
Troschel’s genus Ophiolepis, rather than encumbering the existing 
nomenclature with a new and doubtful generic name. The species, 
which is very distinct from every other described member of the 
. genus, may be defined by the following diagnosis : — 
Opliiolepis gracilis (mihi), nov. spec. 
Upper surface of the disc covered with imbricated plates, a single 
- circular plate occupying the centre, and with the radial shields 
large, and having their opposed edges in contact for their entire 
length. Dorsal shields of the arms about twice as broad as long- 
near the disc, aud thence with their breadth gradually decreasing 
in proportion to their length, until towards the distal extremity of 
the arm they become longer than broad ; they cover the whole 
dorsal surface of the arm, and have their adoral and aboral margins 
transverse and parallel. Ventral shields of the arms very minute, 
and allowing the lateral shields of one side to meet those of the 
opposite side in the inferior median line of the arm. Aboral edge 
of each lateral shield with a notch for the exit of a cirrus. Spines 
about once and a-half as long as the breadth of the arms. Arms 
about five times as long as the diameter of the disc, and gradually 
tapering to a fine point. 
The size of the largest specimens obtained is about four inches 
from tip to tip of the arms. 
VOL. V. 
0 
