Davis—On the Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount Lebanon. 529 
matrix. The length of the fish is 5-2 inches from the snout to the tip of the 
tail: the latter occupies 0°8 inch. 
The head is 1°5 inch' in length from the snout to the free margin of the 
operculum; the height of the posterior part of the head is 1:0 inch. The 
orbit is moderate in size, occupying a medium position near the superior margin 
of the head. The operculum is not well preserved, but appears to have been 
moderately large, with circular posterior margin, the anterior one concave; 
the height is greater than the breadth. The supra-orbital area is small, and 
occupied by one or more somewhat straight and long bones reaching to the 
tip of the snout. The mouth, shown in a second specimen, is large and capable 
of considerable distension. The pre-maxillas encircle the anterior part of the 
upper jaw, and are 0:3 inch in length on each side; the maxillas are slightly 
longer than the pre-maxillas. The maxillas extend backwards 0:5 inch, rounded, 
and rather thin and delicate. There is no evidence of teeth on any of the 
jaws I have examined. The branchiostegal rays are very large and strong, 
nearly an inch in length, and curved almost to a semicircle; they are seven 
in number. 
The vertebral column consists of fifty vertebrae: of these twenty-two are 
caudal. The vertebre are 0:12 inch in height, their width about half the 
height, diminishing in size towards the tail. The ribs are numerous and long. 
The neural and hemal apophyses are short and slender. The interneural spines 
supporting the large dorsal fin are short and stiff in the upper part; at half 
their length they are bifurcated and descend so far that the anterior spines 
embrace the vertebral column; those situated more posteriorly and supporting 
shorter fin-rays do not descend to the vertebra. ‘The interhemal spines are 
single, short, and strong. 
The dorsal fin consists of seventeen rays, the anterior ones 1°3 inch long, 
decreasing backwards; they are strong at the base, divided towards the distal 
extremity. The fin has its origin near the base of the skull, and extends 1:2 
inch backwards. The anal fin is large, its base extending 0°8 inch; the anterior 
ray is 1:0 inch from the base of the caudal fin; it contains thirteen rays, of 
which the anterior one is 0°9 of an inch in length. The rays are similar, 
but somewhat stronger than those of the dorsal fin. The caudal is fairly large 
and powerful; it is moderately lobate ; each lobe is supported by twelve strong 
articulated and dichotomizing rays. The outer rays of each lobe are supported 
by ten or twelve strong imbricating rudimentary rays. 
The pectoral and ventral fins are extremely large. The former are attached 
to the side of the body, slightly lower than the median line, immediately 
behind the opercular apparatus. The pectoral arch is very strong, and descends 
to the abdominal surface, where it affords a base of attachment to the ventral 
fin, immediately below that of the pectoral. The pectoral fin comprises sixteen 
