338 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



If of the same proportions as the P. violossus^ the vertical 

 diameter of the head of this fish would be twenty-three inches. 



A complete cranium of a Po7iheus, probably the P. molossus, 

 for which I am indebted to my friend Professor Merrill, of Lincoln 

 University, at Topeka, Kansas, furnishes several points of interest 

 previouslj' unknown. The moutii is nearly vertical, somewhat as 

 in Osmei'oides, while the vertex is surmounted by an elevated crest. 

 Hence the superior and inferior facial outlines meet at a riglit angle 

 at the muzzle. The orbit is small, and there is a suborbital chain 

 of laminiform bones. The elevation of the skull is 16.75 inches, 

 while the length is only 12.75 inches. 



The specimen of P. leatris was procured by Professor B. F. 

 Mudge, of Manhattan, Kansas, during his survey of 1872, near 

 the Solomon River. Prof. Merrill's specimen was obtained from 

 the same region. 



PORTHEUS GLADIUS, Cope. 



Established on a spine of the kind which I have supposed to be 

 pectoral, and which resembles one I have described (loc. cit., p. 

 382) as from P. molossus or P. thaumas. It is, however, relatively, 

 much thicker than that one, and absolutely much larger, and might 

 pertain to the P. lei<tris^ but there is no evidence to that effect. 



When complete, the spine measured, according to Professor 

 Mudge, fort3'-one inches in length ; the portion now before me 

 measures thirt^'-one inches. The margin is exceedingly acute and 

 is coated with an enamel-like layer, Avhich conceals the rods of 

 which the spine is composed. >'ear the middle of its length these 

 rods number thirty, but whether the entire width is preserved is 

 uncertain. The transverse section is a crescent from the base to 

 beyond the middle, the surface being thus somewhat trough-like. 

 The spine has been somewhat distorted by pressure, but I cannot 

 discover that the form in question is entirely due to that cause. 

 The edge is excavated and notched at irregular points, indicating 

 the frequent use to which this formidable weapon was put during 

 the life of its possessor. 



M. 



Total length (r/rfe Mudge) 1-040 



Width near middle I'^-'J 



Thickness posteriorly in middle 012 



Discovered by Prof. Mudge near the upper waters of the Solo- 

 mon River, Kansas. 



