214 
The peculiar structure of this extremity of the animal is very clearly 
displayed, in the beautiful polished agatine specimen, from Soissons, 
which has been divided by a longitudinal section. Plate XVI. Fig. 13. 
In this specimen, but particularly in its lower part, the vertebral 
column itself is seen surrounded by numerous investing tunics. 
These, at their lower part, are spread out like roots, and are evidently 
well calculated to fix the animal to his devoted spot, whilst a little 
higher up these several tunics cohere together, as well as with the 
column which they include, and having their crenulated articulations 
exactly concur with those of the included vertebrae, they form a ver- 
tebral column, which, having thus acquired a considerable additional 
degree of solidity, must have evidently been well calculated to form 
the main support of the animal. 
In the several species of encrini which have been hitherto treated 
of, it was found necessary to notice how very few specimens of their 
extremities have been found, in comparison with the remains of the 
trunk of the animal. This, however, is not the case with this species, 
since both the extremities of the animal appear to be tolerably abun- 
dant ; indeed, judging from the specimens of this fossil which I have 
obtained, remains of its superior and inferior parts appear to have ex- 
ceeded in proportion those of its vertebral column. 
The lower extremities of this species of encrinite, we have already 
seen, have been found in Wiltshire and at Soissons. They have also 
been found at Pfeffingen, in Germany, but no correct notion respect- 
ing them had been hitherto formed. 
Mons. le Professeur D’Annone favoured Mr. Walch with drawings for 
three plates, from specimens in his museum, obtained from Pfeffingen, 
and which were employed by Mr. Walch in Knorr’s elegant work, 
and illustrated by Mons. D’Annone's observations, which I shall now 
proceed to notice.* You will, whilst attending to these remarks, be 
* Recueil des Monumens, &c. Tome II. Sect. II. P. 119. 
