Excerpt from Palaeontographical Society, 1863, Vol. 15: British Fossil Echinodermata From the Oolitic Formations, Volume Second, Part First, on the Asteroidea; Supplementary Monograph on the Mollusca From the Stonesfield Slate, Great Oolite, Forest Marble, and Cornbrash The true star-fishes forming the order asteroidea have in general a depressed stelliform body, which sometimes assumes a polygonal or pentagonal figure. From the central disc five or more hollow rays proceed, containing prolongations of the internal organs (pl. I, fig. The entire upper surface is covered with a coriaceous integument, in which a series of calcareous pieces, often supporting spines, tubercles, and pedicellariae, are developed (fig. 2, a). In the centre of the under surface is the mouth-opening, from whence radiate to the extremities of the rays as many ambulacra as there are lobes; in these, the tubular retractile feet are arranged in two or four rows; and the margins of the rays in many genera are bordered by well-developed spinigerous plates. (pl. I, fig. 2. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.