92 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
Now the “beads” ai-e nothing more than the joints of 
which the stem of the Encriuite is composed, and the 
Encrinito itself is the fossil skeleton of an ancient Star- 
fish. The abundance of these animals in the primeval 
seas may be inferred from the profusion of their remains ; 
vast strata of marble, extending over large regions in the 
northern parts of both hemispheres, being made up of 
these “lily-stones,” as absolutely, to use the graphic simile 
of the late Professor Buckland, “ as a corn-rick is composed 
of straws.” 
The form, however, is as rare now as it was anciently 
common. Some years ago a fine specimen in a living 
state was brought up by the dredge in the Caribbean Sea; 
and as tho stem was violently torn asunder, the basal por- 
tion being wanting, it is inferred that the base is immove- 
ably fixed to the rock like a sea-weed. With the excep- 
tion of a few fragments found on divers occasions, and 
carefully treasured in national museums, this is the only 
recent specimen of any considerable size which has been 
seen. But a minute kind has been ascertained to inhabit 
our own seas, a tiny Encrinite about three-quarters of an 
inch in length. It is described as bearing “five pairs of 
beautifully pinnated arms, and as of a deep rose-colour, 
dotted over with brown spots, which are regarded as the 
ovaries. It is dredged up,” observes Mr Patterson, “ on 
many parts of the Irish coast, and is occasionally found 
Upon the strand. The first specimen we ever possessed 
was taken on the beach about six miles from Belfast, and 
was brought to that town alive, .Anxious to secure so 
attractive a specimen for the cabinet, we placod it in a 
shallow vessel of fresh water, and found, to our surprise, 
