NIAGARA GROUP. 
227 
This very interesting species is found in all stages of growth, and in all varieties of aspect 
and surface marking. I have in my collection specimens from the size of a pea, to one of two 
inches in length and an inch and three-fourths in its greatest diameter ; the intermediate 
ones present much variety in form, from elongated ovoid, to globose, and sometimes almost 
oblate spheroidal forms. This variety of form is sometimes caused by the presence or absence 
of some plates at the base of the arms, above the scapulars, and sometimes by the development 
of the plates progressing more rapidly in a lateral than in a longitudinal direction. 
Prof. Troost has enumerated five species as occurring in Tennessee : these are the Caryo- 
crinus meconideus , C. hexagonus, C. granulatus, C. insculptus, C. globosus ; while the C. 
ornatus is not mentioned. It seems scarcely possible that this species, so common and abundant 
in New-York, should not occur in Tennessee; since the association of the genera named is 
similar to that in New-York, and, as cited previously, ten species of Eucalyptocrinus are 
found in the same strata. The study of the five distinct species of this genus offers a most 
delightful task. 
Position and locality. This species is very abundant at Lockport and vicinity, and is not 
uncommon at Rochester and Sweden in Monroe county, and has been found as far east as 
Wolcott in Wayne county. Its greatest development, however, was in the vicinity of Lockport; 
and from other evidence, this was a favorable position for the growth of many species of this 
family. ( State Collection .) 
Genus MELOCRINITES (Goldfuss). 
Columna teres, canali tereti vel quinquelobo perforata, brachiis auxiliaribus.. .. ; pelvis articulis 
quatuor; costales primarii et secundarii quini, hexagoni, sibi invicem impositi; intercostales 
quinque, hexagoni costalibus impositae, hexagonas; interscapulares quaterni, in oris regione 
quinque ; brachiae quinque ; os in latere verticis. 
The characters of the fragment described below, so far as can be ascertained, correspond to 
those of this genus of Goldfuss. The anomalous feature of four pelvic plates succeeded by 
five costals, is met with in no other crinoid ; and having only the plates of these two series 
remaining, they furnish sufficient evidence for the reference to this genus. 
Of the two species described by Goldfuss, one is cited from the Mountain limestone, and 
the other from the Transition limestone. 
Melocriniles hieroglyphicus, and M. loevis, Goldfuss, Petrefacta Germania, Vol. i, pag. 197, pi. lx, fig9. 1 and 2, 
