VII.—Alleged Prints of Echinoderms in Triassic Reptiliferous Sandstones

Extract

In the Geological Magazine for January, 1901 (n.s., Dec. IV, Vol. VIII, pp. 3, 4), Professor Burckhardt describes certain markings in the sandstone matrix of specimens of Hyperodapedon and Rhynchosaurus in the British Museum, from Elgin, Shropshire, and Warwickshire (the last, however, not being, as implied by the legend to the figure, represented in the Museum). He believes that these are hollow imprints “left by Echinoderms of a Euryalid shape, having peripheral arms, either simple or forked,” but he appeals to specialists to decide to which group of Echinoderms they are due. Since these marks are said to be exceedingly numerous, and since Dr. Burckhardt uses them as evidence of contemporaneity, I thought it my duty, as the specialist nearest at hand, to examine these statements without delay.