Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
Before the Austins published their Monograph on Recent and Fossil Crinoidea, they issued to prospective subscribers an illustrated circular intimating the forthcoming publication of the work. Through the kindness of Professor W. T. Gordon, of King's College, London, I have a copy of this circular. It is in one sheet, printed on one side only and measures 7¼ in. by 9½ in. Over one-third of the upper part of the printed page is occupied by two specimen illustrations, “Platycrinites laevis (Miller)” on the left, and “Actinocrinites elephantinus (Austin)” on the right hand side. The genus Platycrinites was later fully described in parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Monograph, and a facsimile of the drawing of P. laevis of the circular is given on pl. i, fig. 1e of the Monograph. The illustration of Actinocrinites elephantinus Austin, however, does not seem to have been published in any work by the Austins prior or subsequent to part 8 of the Monograph, which was the last number to appear.