12 



FOSSIL FISHES. 



Lithographic stone of SolenhofeD, Bavaria, and in the Cretaceous 

 rocks of the Lebanon, Syria (See Wall-case 3, and Table-cases 31 

 and 33), some specimens have been met with showing the entire 

 outline of the fish very perfectly, and many of the details of their 

 anatomy. 



Wall-case 1 and Table-case 25 contain a large series of " Ichthy- 

 odorulites," a term usually applied to the strong bony defensive 

 spines of extinct Shark-like fishes. (See Figs. 9-13.) These spines 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 13. 



Fig. 11.— Dorsal spine of Hybodus, Lias, Lyme Regis. 



Fig. 12. — A. Spine of Lepracanthus Colei, Owen, Coal-measures, Ruabon, N. Wales, 

 portion of the spine enlarged, to show the external ornamentation. 

 Fig. 13. — Portion of spine of Edestes vorax, Coal-measures, Indiana, U.S. N. Ameiica. 



B. A 



were firmly embedded in the muscular tissue of the back, just in 

 front of the dorsal fins.* That they were formidable weapons of 

 offence and defence, is clearly indicated by the pointed extremity 

 and the presence of one or two rows of strong recurved denticles 

 on the posterior margin, adapted for inflicting deep and lacerating 



* Save in Gijracantims and Oracanthus, which were, no doubt, lateral spines. 



