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articulated and ramifying arms. The vertebral column, which is pen- 
tagonal, is from seventeen to eighteen inches in length, and might 
have been much longer, as it has evidently been broken off, at its 
lower part. It is formed of flat pentagonal vertebrae, pierced in their 
centre. Every vertebra possesses a stelliform surface on each side, 
derived from the arrangement of the depressions, and the apophysal 
eminences ; the eminences and depressions of each opposed surface 
being mutually adapted to each other, so as to produce an exactly 
fitting articulation. Through the central foramen, a membranous, 
nervous, or filamentous substance passes, which, from its introduction 
into all the minute lateral foramina of the vertebrae, seems to contri- 
bute much to the retaining the parts of the vertebral column in their 
proper situation: and between each vertebra, a soft cartilaginous 
body is interposed, by which the necessary motions of the trunk 
must have been greatly facilitated. At regular distances, diminish- 
ing as they approach the superior part, articulated processes are given 
out from each of the five sides of the vertebral column. Tlie arms of 
this animal, which are five in number, proceed from the sides of the 
superior vertebral, and form, by their divisions and repeated subdivisions, 
innumerable ramifications or fingers, the sides of which are beset with 
articulated tentacula.* 
With respect to the substance of this body, it appears to hold a mid- 
dle place between bone and cartilage, approaching to that of which 
the shells of echini are formed ; and even in this its recent state, it bears 
some resemblance to a spathose substance from its lamellated texture, 
and the brightness of its fracture. To this specimen the name of Palma 
Marina had been given. A slight sketch of the remains of this recent 
animal is given Plate XIX. Fig. 1. 
Mr. Ellis also gave the following account of what he terms a re- 
cent encrinus, or star-fish, with a jointed stem, found on the coast of 
Barbadoes. 
* Memoires de I’Academie des Sciences de I’An. 1755. 
