Teleostei — A can thopteryrju. 4 1 



modification seems to have been as complete in its early Tertiary 

 progenitor as in the surviving type. 



To the Coryphccnidce — pelagic fishes with a single long dorsal fin Wall-case 

 and laterally-compressed body — Dr. G iinther refers the Gasteronemus No. 17. 

 of Monte Bolca, which is perhaps not distinct from the living genus 

 Meue. It is remarkable for the length of the spinous rays represent- 

 ing the pelvic fins, and several fine specimens are exhibited in the 

 wall-case. Goniognatlim, from Sheppey, may also be placed here. 



The Carangidce, or " Horse-mackerels," constitute an extensive Wall-case, 

 family of laterally-compressed deep-bodied fishes, abundantly No. 17. 

 represented at present and throughout the Tertiary period, com- ^able-case 

 prising a few forms also in the Cretaceous. Vomer, Aipicldhys, uo. 54. 

 and Piatax, have been described from the Chalk of Comen in Istria 

 (Trieste), and Piatax (Fig. 77) alone from that of Mount Lebanon : 

 the last-named genus survives in existing seas (as the " Sea-bats "), 

 having also left traces of its presence in the Eocene of Monte 

 Bolca, and the Crags of our Eastern counties. The Crag fossils are 

 mere fragments of vertebral centra, neural spines, and interspinous 

 bones ; the spines are tumid in the middle, giving the broken pieces 

 a curious appearance. Semiophorus (Eig. 78) is a remarkable 

 extinct genus found at Monte Bolca, and characterized by the 

 enormous development of the dorsal fin ; the pelvic fins are long 

 and slender, thoracic in position, and situated in advance of the 

 pectorals, which are very small. Lichia, Carangopsis, and Ductor, 

 are other Monte Bolca genera shown in the wall-case ; the first still 

 exists, the second is scarcely distinguishable from the living Caranx, 

 and the third appears to be extiuct. Ampliistium, from the same 

 deposit and the Paris Eocenes, is another form referable to this 

 family. 



Of the Acronnridce, or " Surgeons," species pertaining to the Table-case, 

 living Acanihurm and Kaseus are exhibited from the Eocene of No. 54. 

 Monte Bolca. 



An extinct family, apparently most closely related to the Tri- Wall-case, 

 cl/iuridce, is that of the Palceorhynchidce. These are long, slender, No. 17. 

 laterally-compressed fishes, with a very delicate skeleton, and 

 having the jaws prolonged into a sharply -pointed beak, either 

 edentulous or provided with very small teeth. The dorsal fin is 

 supported by spinous rays and extends along the entire length of 

 the back, and the caudal fin is deeply forked. In Palaeorhynchum the 

 jaws are of equal length, and an extensive series of specimens is 

 shown in the Wall-case, from the Eocene Slates of Canton Glaris. 

 Semirhynchus, which has the upper jaw much longer than the 

 lower, occurs both in the Glaris beds and in the Lower Tertiaries 

 of France and Belgium. 



The Trichiuridce (" Hair-tails," " Scabbard-fishes," etc.) differ Wall-case, 

 most prominently from the preceding family in the powerful No. 17. 

 character of the jaws, which are armed with strong teeth, some 

 usually much larger than the others. Representatives of the 

 existing Lepidopus occur in the Eocene Slates of Glaris, and also in 



