FOSSIL FISHES. 



17 



" Challenger " records state, that many teeth of sharks and ear- 

 bones of whales were dredged up, all in a semi-fossil state, and 

 usually impregnated with oxides of iron and manganese. The 

 sharks' teeth belong principally to genera, and often to species, 

 believed to be extinct, and resemble those found fossil in the late 

 Tertiary formations.* 



In Wall-case 3 are placed a fine series of Sharks and Rays (Figs. 

 21-23) from the Cretaceous of the Lebanon. These specimens are 

 so beautifully preserved that the entire outline of the fish, the teeth 

 in situ, the shagreen skin, and the form of the fins and tail, are 

 often seen. The Sharks probably belong to the genus Scullium, 

 and closely resemble the small living Spotted Dog-fish in form 

 (Wall-case 3, and Table-case 27). 



The genus Spinax, from the Lebanon Cretaceous, exhibits the 

 vertebrae and two dorsal spines in situ (Table-case 31). 



Specimens of Dre/panepliorus canaliculatus, from the Chalk of 



Fig. 23.— The Ray (Raja Murrayi, Glinther), from Kerguelen's Island. A, dorsal aspect; 

 B, part of ventral side ; sja, spiracle ; br, branchial clefts. 



Sussex, show the spines, vertebrae, jaws, and teeth in natural associa- 

 tion (Table-case 31). 



In the same Wall-case (3) are placed specimens of the remarkable 

 Squaloraia poh/spondyla, from the Lias of Lyme Regis — also 

 numerous examples of the Ray family (Fig. 23), represented by 

 Spathohatis bur/esiacus, from the Kimmeridgiau of Ciriu, near Lyons; 

 Squatina acantho derma, from the Lithographic stone of Bavaria ; 

 C/jclobatis and Rliinobatus, from the Cretaceous of the Lebanon. 

 These latter are among the most perfect examples of fossil fishes in 

 the collection; the broadly-expanded rayed pectoral fins aud the 

 long caudal fin are well seen. 



The spines known as Myriacanthus (Table-case 33), from the 

 Lias, are referred to the Raiida?. 



* "Voyage of H.M.S.S. Challmger," by Sir Wyville Thomson, 1877, Vol. II. 

 pp. 351 and 376. 



