20 
CRETACEOUS ECIIIXODERMATA 
Locality. — Tho species was obtained at Pondichem% in beds which according to 
their fanna arc classed with the Senonien or the white chalk. Judging from the 
similarity of the species to the three preceding ones, I have little doubt that these 
beds belong to the Arrialoor groop, and, therefore, D’Orbigny’s determination of 
the group is perfectly correct. 
II. (^^«2<5.—EPI ASTER, L'Orh., 1853. 
Pal. Fiany. ten-, cret., tom. VI, p. 18G. 
This genus includes a number of siiccics of the usual spatangoid cordate shape, 
with the ambulacra slightly impressed, the anterior sulcus being shallow, the pores 
in the zones equal; tho surface granulated, with intermixed sub-equal small 
tubercles ; four genital plates in contact ; fascicle absent. The last negative charac- 
ter is the only one which separates tho genus from Micraster, possessing a sub-anal 
fascicle. Cotteau (Synops, Echinid. foss., p. 3G0) considers this dilfcrence as not 
sutheient to constitute a distmet genus, and unites, therefore, both under Micraster. 
However, so long as the character of the presence of a fascicle is constant, it should, 
I think, deserve value similar to that which is attributed to the presence of a peripetal 
fascicle in Hemiaster, and its very close ally, Periaster, which latter has in addition 
also a lateral fasciole. The distinction of all these genera is entirely based upon 
the presence or absence of a certain kind of fascicle. 
The species of Epiaster, as likcAvise those of Micraster, are cretaceous, with 
the exception of Laube’s Micraster brevistella, which occurs in tertiary beds at the 
Murray Cliffs in South Australia ; as no mention is made of the presence of a sub- 
anal fasciole, the species is probably referable to Epiaster (compare Sitzb. Akad. 
Mien, Math. Nat. Klasse, 1809, vol. 59, pt. I, p. 192, fig. 7). 
1. Epiastek nobilis, StoUezka. PL III, Pigs. 7 — 8. 
Epiast. testa depresse cordata, ad peripheriam siih-rotimdata, amhitu paxdo tindu- 
lato, postice anguste truncata ; amhulacris paido impressis, snh-Jlexuosis, suh-ceqiia- 
libus, antero-lateralibus valde-, posticis modice- divergentibus, apice sub-centrali 
(anticoj ; poris genitalibus magnis ; siiperjicie supera minutisswie granulata, atqae 
mimUe tubercidata, wfera tubercidifera, regione post-orali prope labium perangusta, 
deplanata, postice pa^dhdum elevala ; apertnra rodundate ovata ; ano sub-rotmidato, 
ad marginem sitperiorem regionis inlerambidacralis convexiusculce sito. 
This is one of the most beautiful and most perfect species of Spatangoids foimd 
in the South Indian cretaceous deposits. It has a depressly cordate shape with the 
anterior sulcus very slightly marked ; the margin is rounded and the enthe periphery 
slightly undulating ; the apex is somewhat anterior to the centre, the post-apical 
region very little elevated, and gradually cm’ved to the anal end, which is rather low, 
( 90 ) 
