74 



VERTEBRATA. 



No. 124. Diplomystus altus, Leidy. 



The lacustrine deposits of the Western Tertiary are sometimes exceedingly 

 rich in fish remains, the skeletons being frequently preserved in great per- 

 fection. This species, closely related to the Herring, is from the Green River 

 Shales, (Eocene) Wyoming Territory. 



No. 125. Fish. 

 Another species from the same locality as the preceding. 



No. 126. [346] Beryx superbus, Dixon. 



Group, on slab (cast). The genus Beryx, of 

 which there are tvpo existing species in the 

 Australian seas, represented the Perch family 

 (luring the Cretaceous period. The charac- 

 teristics are a large, blunt head, one dorsal fin, 

 with several spinous rays in front of the soft 

 ones, and large, round pectinated scales. This 

 specimen was found in the Lower Chalk, at Lewes, England, and is in the 

 Private Cabinet of S. H. Beckles, Esq., of Brighton, England. 



Size, 23 X 14. 



No. 127. Coprolite, Buckl. 



This specimen is undoubtedly the fossil excrement of a 

 fish, according to Mantell, of the Ganoid Macropoma. It 

 has a conical form and a convoluted appearance, arising 

 from the fact that the intestinal canal was spirally twisted. 

 The analysis of Prout shows these fecal remains to be 

 composed cliiefly of phosphate of lime. This coprolite 

 w^as found in the Lower Chalk, Rochester, England. 



