DISCOVERIES IN TRIASSIC BEDS NEAR FROME. 19 



genera of fishes. Witli the above were found a number of 

 curious bociies, each of which was surmounted by a de- 

 pressed enamelled thorn-like spine, or tooth, in some cases 

 with poInts as sharp as that of a coarse needle ; these Mr. 

 Moore supposed to be spinous scales belonging to several 

 nevv species of fish allied to the Squaloraia, and that to the 

 same genus were to be referred a number of minute hair- 

 like spines, with flattened fluted sides, found in the same 

 deposit. There were also present specimens hitherto sup- 

 posed to be teeth, and for which Agassiz had created the 

 genus Ctenoptychius., but which he was rather disposed 

 to consider, like those previously referred to, to be the 

 outer scales of a fish allied to the Squaloraia. It was 

 remarked that as the drift must have been transported 

 from some distance, delicate organisms could scarcely be 

 expected, but, notwithstanding, it contained some most 

 minute fish-jaws and palates, of which, perfect or other- 

 wise, one hundred and thirty examples had been found. 

 These were from the eighth to a quarter of an inch in 

 length, and within this small compass some specimens 

 possessed from thirty to forty teeth. In one palate he had 

 reckoned as many as seventy-four in position, and there 

 were spaces from which sixteen more had disappeared, so 

 that in this tiny specimcn there had been ninety teeth. 



Of the Order Eeptilia there were probably eight or nine 

 genera, consisting of detached teeth, scutes, vertebras, ribs, 

 and articulated bones. Amongst these he had found the 

 flat crushing teeth of Placodus, a discovery of interest. for 

 hitherto this reptile had only been found in the Muschel- 

 kalk of Germany, a zone of rocks hitherto considered 

 wanting in this country, but which in its fauna was repre- 

 sented by the above reptile. 



But by far the most important remaiiis in this deposit 



