494 Davis—On the Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount Lebanon. 
The ventral arch is 0°35 of an inch behind the pectoral; the central bone 
extends from the vertebral column 0:2 of an inch on each side: from this a 
branch is given off backwards for the support of the ventral fin, and a second 
forms a spinous anterior ray to the fin. In addition to the spine there are 
eighteen rays to support the fin, the longest 0°3 of an inch in length, and . 
diminishing posteriorly. The rays do not present any appearance of jointing 
or division. 
The spinal column is composed of vertebra whose length and height are 
as nearly as possible equal in the thoracic region of the body, but which increase 
in height towards the caudal extremity. The number of vertebree contained in 
the distance between the pectoral and ventral arches is thirteen, and thence to 
the posterior extremity of the ventral arch about ten more. Beyond the ventral 
area the caudal vertebre extend 1:1 inch. The number of vertebre cannot be _ 
distinguished; the intermediate portion of the caudal appendage is imperfect. 
The forty-eighth and adjacent vertebrae, counted from the pectoral arch, support 
a strong recurved spine less than 0:1 of an inch in length, stout and broad 
at the base, rapidly contracting to an acute point. At the termination of the 
tail there is evidence of a second hook or spine similar to the one described, and 
it is probable that others occupied intermediate positions. 
The strong spines attached to the anterior rays of the ventral fins, and the 
long caudal appendage with the recurved spinous bodies attached to it, separate 
this fish from both the genera of rays hitherto described from the upper 
cretaceous rocks of Sahel Alma or Hakel. It is more closely related with 
Rhinobatus than Cyclobatus. The non-extension of the pectoral fins to the 
anterior portion of the head readily distinguishes it from the latter. And whilst 
the pectoral fins resemble, to a large degree, those of Rhinobatus, the presence 
of spines attached to the ventral fins separates it from that genus. 
Its closest relationship appears to be with the genus Raja, and provisionally 
it is placed in that genus with the specifie appellation, in reference to its small 
size, of Raja minor. 
Formation and Locality —Upper Cretaceous: Sahel Alma, Mount Lebanon. 
Ex coll,—Lewis Collection, British Museum. 
Order.—GANOIDEI. AGASSIZ. 
“Skeleton cartilaginous or ossified. Body with medial and paired fins, the 
hinder pair abdominal. Gills free, rarely partially attached to the walls of 
the gill cavity; one external gill opening only on each side; a gill cover. Air 
bladder with a pneumatic duct. Ova small, impregnated after exclusion. 
Embryo sometimes with external gills.” (Giinther.) 
