4. On the Structure of the Palœozoic Crinoids

Abstract

The best known living representatives of the Echinoderm Class CRINOIDEA are the genera Antedon and Pentacrinus—the former the feather stars, tolerably common in all seas; the latter the stalked sea lilies, whose only ascertained habitat, until lately, was the deeper portion of the sea of the Antilles, whence they were rarely recovered by being accidentally entangled on fishing lines. Within the last few years Mr Robert Damon, the well-known dealer in natural history objects in Weymouth, has procured a considerable number of specimens of the two West-indian Pentacrini, and Dr Carpenter and the author had an opportunity of making very detailed observations both on the hard and the soft parts. These observations will shortly be published.