72 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 
SPECIES. RapiaL Formute. L SCALES OF 
ATERAL Line, 
L. atrox Leidy ID, (Ch We Ah. fe PAG. 50-60 
L. simplex Leidy IDB (Oo iYIs JN, 7 ce 2 circa 45 
L. tristechus (Bl. and Sch.) D.7-8; C. 12; A. 8; 125 (a5 60 
L. tropicus Gill DSi: Cpl AR Ce anGe 52-54 
L. platystomus Raf. DSi Fe Cl? ARS PG 56 
ZL. osseus (Linn.) ORR Oh ie ING Tee a 1B 62 
Scales. —The body armoring is excessively heavy, being on a par with that of 
the head, and recalling the powerful dermal defences of Lepidotus maximus trom 
the Upper Jura. In fact, these two species probably have the strongest scaly coat- 
ing of all fossil ganoids. Owing to flexure of the body in the present specimen, 
with consequent disturbance of the squamation anteriorly, it is difficult to count 
the longitudinal or even transverse scale-series with accuracy. There are no 
conspicuously marked scales along the dorsal ridge by which the median line 
of the back can be determined; but making all due allowance for displace- 
ment, the number of longitudinal series in the middle of the body may be set 
down at between 18 and 20, and of transverse oblique series counting along 
the lateral line at between 50 and 60. A very large anal scale marks the posi- 
tion of the vent. The exposed surface of most of the scales lying between the 
tail and middle of the body is smooth, but the posterior margin is strongly 
fimbriate. Some of the scales lying in advance of the pelvic fins are smooth, 
but the majority have their central portion ornamented with puncte, pittings, 
or channellings, and interspersed with these are occasional papilla. The lateral 
line in the present specimen is inconspicuously marked. To give enlarged 
figures of separate scales is hardly considered worth while, owing to the exten- 
sive series illustrated by Leidy and Cope. Those figured by Cope (Rept. U. 8. 
Geol. Surv. Territ., Vol. III. Plate II, Figures 8, 10-12) show the typical orna- 
mentation as well as any, and Figures 47 and 48 show the highly sculptured 
postclavicular plates. 
Vertebre. — The vertebral column is traceable for the greater portion of its 
length, although it protrudes only at intervals through the mass of scales so as 
to exhibit the individual centra. For views of detached vertebre reference 
must be had to the works of Leidy and Cope already cited. Stout displaced 
neural and hemal spines are visible in places along the extent of the vertebral 
column, and in some places ribs are to be distinguished. 
Coprolite. — Accompanying the specimen is a cylindrical coprolite 13.5 cm, 
long and 5.5 cm. in diameter, which is stated by the collector to have been 
found in close proximity to the fish. That it is of piscine origin admits of no 
doubt, and it could hardly have been voided by a smaller species than that 
under consideration. Its outer surface is marked with a few irregularly spiral 
folds, but is otherwise smooth. No large hard particles are to be distinguished, 
and the whole mass bears evidence of very thorough digestion. 
