Davis—On the Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount Lebanon. 513 
Genus. Hoplopteryx. AGAssiz. 
Body compressed, more or less oval in outline. Abdominal cavity deep. 
Head large in proportion to the size of the body. Orbit large. Opercular bones 
serrated. Vertebral column strong. Dorsal fin with five or six spinous rays, 
strong and widely separated. Anal fin has three spinous rays, supported by a 
strong interspinous process, which reaches nearly to the vertebral column. Scales 
large, strongly connected, but not coarsely punctured. Lateral line begins on 
abdominal surface, near the tail, and passes over the vertebral column forwards ; 
it consists of arrow-shaped scales.” (V. d. Marck.) 
The genus Hoplopteryx approaches those of Holocentrum and Myripristis in 
form and general configuration, and also in the possession of seven or more 
branchiostegal rays; but it is distinctly separated by the spinous and soft rays of 
the dorsal fin being continuous, and forming only one fin, whilst those of Holo- 
centrum and Myripristis constitute two separate dorsal fins. From Platycormus 
(Beryx germanus, Agassiz), established by Von der Marck (‘‘ Paleeontographica,” 
vol. x1., p. 19), this genus is distinguished by the scales of the former not being 
denticulated along the posterior margin, but only granulose; and the spinous rays 
of the dorsal fin forming an imbricating series considerably smaller than the 
succeeding soft rays. Hoplopteryx is perhaps more nearly related to Beryx than 
to any other genus. It agrees with the latter in the form of the head and the 
denticulation of its bones as well as the scales of the body. It is distinguished by 
Agassiz (‘‘ Poissons Fossiles,” vol. 1v., p. 131) by the larger development of the 
spinous portion of the dorsal fin, which exceeds in length and size the articulated 
portion. The spinous rays are more widely separated from each other, and do 
not appear to have the same close connexion with the fin rays behind as those of 
Beryx. It is necessary to consider the variety of fishes which have been included 
in the genus Beryx. Agassiz described five species ; and of these, Beryx germanus 
has served Von der Marck as the type of the genus Platycormus, as already stated. 
The three species, Beryx ornatus, radians, and microcephalus, from the chalk of 
the South of England, agree with the existing members of the genus in the 
formation of the dorsal fin, whilst B. zippei, from Bohemia, is possessed of a 
number of dorsal spinous rays, which very closely approximate to those of 
Hoplopteryx. ‘The same observation applies to the species B. superbus, a figure 
of which is given by Mr. Dixon in the ‘“‘ Geology of Sussex” (pl.. xxxv1., fig. 5). 
From the Lebanon, Pictet and Humbert have described two species of fish remains 
as Beryx vexillifer and Beryx syriacus. The former is aptly spoken of by the 
authors as, under every point of view, a true Beryx; the other, as belonging to 
an intermediate group. Beryx syriacus is, in fact, closely related with B. zippei, 
Ag., and B. superbus, Dixon, and with them to the genus Hoplopteryx. After a 
