142 



the body, -^^ of an Inch ; length of the head equal to the greates 

 width of the body ; fish, four diameters of its body in length ; 

 fins, one dorsal, opposite anal, situated in the posterior third of 

 body, — anal fin little larger than dorsal; abdominal fin small, 

 situated a little in advance of the middle of the body of fish ; 

 pectoral fin a little larger than abdominal ; scales, large and 

 brilliant, having a light-brown color striated parallel to anterior 

 margins transversely, and longitudinally in middle, but finer than 

 on anterior margins ; tail, more regular than the before-described 

 species, but still unequal ; has scales in upper division. This 

 specimen also presents another curious feature ; its tail having 

 been amputated by a shift of the strata, and the fracture being 

 polished and re-cemented a little out of place. Head more acute 

 than any of the before described species, and very perfectly pre- 

 served, having the fine markings of the gill covers and the striss 

 and markings distinct, and also, what appears to be the impres- 

 sion of the tongue of the fish. The orbitar ring is also preserved, 

 and is a horn-like circle, or ring, filled with bituminous shale or 

 clay. A coprolite under the abdomen of the fish, is a cylindri- 

 cal mass, rounded at each end, -^jj of an inch long, and ^^ of an 

 inch in diameter. It is of an ash-gray color, and includes what 

 appears to be small black scales of fishes. 



FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE ALBERT COAL BIINE. 



My attention was so much occupied by the fossil fishes of this 

 interesting mine, that I had omitted to look for the usual coal 

 plants, when I was suddenly called by one of my companions to 

 look at an impression which he had found in splitting a piece of 

 the shale. The instant I saw it I recognized it as a perfect stem 

 of a Lepidodendron, a well-known plant of the coal formation. 

 The rock with the fossil plant was delivered to me, and I have 

 both the stem and the imprint in the rock which contains it. 

 This fossil rendered any further search into the geological age 

 of the fish-bearing rocks of the mine unnecessary ; but wishing 

 to obtain more specimens, numerous slabs were broken open, 

 and large expanded leaves, resembling a species of palm, or a 

 plant quite common in the coal formation of our country, were 

 found, having all the delicate markings, cross veins or bands, 



