Eastman: Tertiarv Fish-Remains. '.'•!'> 



spratcllides 7 occurs in the river system of New South Wales, and is 

 said also to inhabit certain rivers along the western coast of South 

 America, especially in Chili. The distinctive character of the so- 

 called " Hyperlophus" as contrasted with Clupea, consists in the 

 presence of a series of enlarged dorsal scutes extending between the 

 occiput and origin of the dorsal fin. In other words, it is a double- 

 armored herring, and differs from the single-armored in precisely the 

 same manner as does Diplomystus, and from the last-named genus it 

 has not been possible to prove any separation at all. Smith Wood- 

 ward 8 is, therefore, apparently justified in claiming Hyperlophus to 

 be a synonym of Diplomystus, although Dr. Jordan, 9 without arguing 

 the question, has expressed a contrary opinion, saying: " Dr. Wood- 

 ward regards Hyperlophus as a synonym of Diplomystus, which is 

 quite unlikely. One may be too hasty in regarding living forms as 

 identical with extinct genera, as well as too hasty in separating them." 

 So much, then, for the general facts of distribution. It is now in 

 order to present a description of the new species of Diplomystus from 

 a supposed early Tertiary horizon at Benito, on the western coast of 

 tropical Africa. 



Diplomystus goodi, sp. nov. 



A deep-bodied species of moderate size, attaining a total length of 

 about 15 cm., and resembling D. longicostatus (from South America) 

 in that the caudal region is comparatively short and tapering. Dorsal 

 region much elevated, the margin rising to the origin of the dorsal fin, 

 behind which it abruptly descends; frontal profile steep. Maximum 

 depth of the trunk equaling twice the length of the head with opercular 

 apparatus. Abdominal vertebra? about sixteen in number, caudals 

 not more than twelve or thiiteen. 



Pectoral fins small, and the much smaller pelvic pair opposed to the 

 middle of the dorsal; the latter fin with about fifteen rays, and situated 

 as in D. longicostatus; anal fin with about ten rays, arising considerably 

 behind the posterior end of the dorsal. Ventral ridge-scales com- 

 paratively small in advance of the pelvic fins, but much larger beyond 



7 Ogilby, J. Douglas, In Records of the Australian Museum, Vol. II, 1892, p. 24. 



8 Woodward, A. S., Doubly-armoured Herrings. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), 

 Vol. X, p. 412. 



9 Jordan, D. S., Description of a Collection of Fossil Fishes from the Bituminous 

 Shales at Riacho Doce, State of Alagoas, Brazil. Annals Car. Mus., Vol. VII, 

 N'i. 1, iqio, p. 25. 



