36 



Fossil Fishes. 



Wall-case, 

 No. 16. 

 Table-case, 

 No. 50a. 



Table-case, 

 No. 51. 

 Table-case, 

 No. 52. 



Table-case, 

 No. 52. 



Next to the Hoplopleurida are provisionally placed an extensive 

 series of extinct fishes from the Chalk, which constitute the families 

 of Saurodontidce, Stratodontidce, and FrisicJitheidce {Protosphjrcenidce) 

 of Prof. Cope. These are regarded as truly Physostomous Teleo- 

 steans, though exhibiting some points of resemblance to the 

 Acanthopterygii, and their natural arrangement is at present most 

 uncertain, on account of the fragmentary character of the specimens 

 hitherto exhaustively studied. To the Saurodontidce are referred 

 several genera with teeth implanted in distinct sockets, such as 

 Portheus, Daptimts, Ichthyodectes, and Saurocephalus. Of the Strato- 

 dontidce, Pachyrhizodus (=^ITypsodon in part) and Stratodus are 

 typical genera, and a fine series of specimens of the first is exhibited 

 from the English Chalk. Enchodus is also placed here by Cope, 

 but seems to represent a distinct family ; the maxilla and pre- 

 maxilla are very long and slender, with minute teeth, and the 

 palatine and ectopterygoid are provided with powerful teeth ; the 

 palatine is especially robust, bearing a single large tooth, and forms 

 one of the best-known Chalk fossils. Cimolichthys and Pomognathus 

 may perhaps be closely allied genera, and many specimens are 

 exhibited from the English Chalk. The Protosphyrainida are long- 

 snouted fishes, with teeth implanted in distinct sockets, and with 

 an unusually complex lower jaw. The detached teeth of Proto- 

 sphyrcena ferox {Frisichthe Dixoni) were originally referred in 

 error to Saurocephalus lanciformis. 



The East Indian Notopteridce are represented by a single species 

 of Notopterm from the Tertiary lignites of Padang, Sumatra. 



The "Eels," or Mircsnidce, are spread at present over almost 

 all the freshwaters and seas of the temperate and tropical zones, 

 and the earliest of their fossil remains hitherto discovered are from 

 the Upper Cretaceous of Mount Lebanon. Beautiful examples of 

 these are exhibited in the case. The genus Bhynchorhinus, of the 

 London Clay, seems to be rightly placed in this family ; and in the 

 beds of Monte Bolca there are representatives of the living genera 

 Anyuilla, Ophichthys, and SphayebrancJius, in addition to numerous 

 specimens of the so-called ZepiocepJiali, which are supposed to be 

 undeveloped larval forms. Later deposits, like the Miocene of 

 Oeningen, Switzerland, and the Upper Eocene of Aix in Provence, 

 Prance, have also yielded species of Anyuilla, and some fine 

 examples from the first-named locality are preserved in the 

 collection. 



The Cyprinodontida (toothed Carps) are a family of very small 

 freshwater fishes allied to the true Cyprinidce, but differing, as the 

 name implies, in the presence of teeth in the jaws, and also in one 

 or two other important respects. Most of the fossil species appear to 

 be referable to the living genus Cyprinodon (Zebias), and numerous 

 specimens are shown from the Upper Eocene deposits of Aix in 

 Provence, the Miocene of Oeningen, and the equivalent lignites of 

 Central Prance and Germany. The fishes from Aix are frequently 

 found buried in shoals, as is well shown by slabs of marl covered 



