224 
the fingers, and of the tentacula, between the lily encrinite and the 
Briaraen pentacrinite : these partaking of the great length of those in 
the latter fossil; whilst, like those of the Lily Lncrinite, they appear to 
have been capable of being contracted into the form of a closed 
flower. The arms and fingers are much more slender than in the lily 
encrinus ; and the articulated tentacula, which are arranged along the 
whole length of the fingers, have very much the appearance of the 
terminations of the abovementioned pentacrinite. It is much to be 
regretted that the parts forming the pelvis are not discoverable in this 
specimen ; in consequence of which, no correct opinion can be formed, 
respecting the modes in which the arms were given off from the pelvis, 
or of the manner in which this was united to the vertebral column. 
For a particular account of this curious fossil, I must refer you to 
the subjoined information respecting it with which I have been favoured 
by Mr. Donovan. 
“ PLUMOSE ENCRINUS. 
“ A large flat piece of compact grey limestone, of nearly a triangu- 
lar form, and very uneven surface, at its greatest extremities, 10 inches 
by 85. In one part of this is imbedded an encrinus, having a great 
number of long arms or rays, each furnished with numerous delicate 
tentacula or claspers, disposed like the feathery appendages on the 
quill of a pen, and on account of which resemblance it has been named 
Encrinus pennata. Fourteen of these arms are visible, or may be 
traced, on one side of the stone, and sixteen or more on the other. 
Some of these arms, being in relievo on the surface, shew the tentacula 
very distinctly and fine; others are partially concealed in the stone. 
Near these are a number of the finer or extreme parts of other arms 
of a similar structure. The arms are cylindrical, and composed of a 
great number of flat joints with a rounded edge, the largest about 
