524 Davis—On the Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount Lebanon. 
spines ; anal with three. Ventrals well developed, with one spine and five rays. 
Teeth setiform, with an outer series of rather larger teeth, notched at the top; 
palate toothless. Scales of moderate size or rather small.” (Giinther.) 
Attention is drawn by M. Pictet (‘‘Nouv. rech. sur les Poiss. foss. du 
M. Liban.,” p. 46) to the comparatively short anal and dorsal fins of the fossil 
species as compared with those of the species still existing, and also those of the 
fossil forms of the more recent strata at Monte Bolea. A resemblance in this 
respect to the genus Pycnosterinx is pointed out, but, excepting in the com- 
parative smallness of the vertical fins, the fossil from Lebanon accords well with 
the characteristics of the genus. The specimen of which a description is here 
given is much deeper between the extremities of the vertical fins in proportion to 
its length than Platax minor, described by Pictet. 
Platax minor, Picter. 
Platax minor. J. F. Picrer, 1850. ‘‘ Poissons Fossiles du Liban.,” p. 19, pl. m., 
fig. 1. 
Platax minor. Picrer and Humperr, 1866. ‘ Nouv. rech. sur les Poiss. foss.,” 
p. 48, pl. 1v., figs. 1-3. 
Formation and Locality—Hard chalk: Hakel, Mount Lebanon. 
Ex coll_—Museum at Geneva. 
Platax brevis, Davis. 
(Pl. xxv., fig. 4.) 
The form of the body without the fins is oval, much compressed antero- 
posteriorly. Its length from the snout to the base of the caudal fin is 1-1 inch; 
its height, exclusive of the dorsal and anal fins, is 17 inch. The caudal fin is not 
perfect, neither is the anal. The dorsal fin adds 0-7 inch to the height of the 
fish. The anterior outline of the body, including that of the head, is rounded ; 
and to the base of the dorsal and anal fins, which occupy the highest and lowest 
points of the body, the profile occupies about one-third the entire length of the 
body. The vertical fins extend to the base of the tail in more or less straight 
lines. 
The head is very short in proportion to its height, the latter bemg 1:3 inch; 
the length, 9-5 inch, or nearly one-half the length of the entire body without the 
tail. It is bounded posteriorly by the opercular bones. They are long and 
narrow, rounded towards their lower extremity, and tapering upwards. Between 
the operculum and the lower jaw a few short and slender bones appear to indicate 
branchiostegal rays; their number or exact form cannot be distinguished. The 
