Davis—On the Fossil Fishes of the Chaik of Mount Lebanon. 563 
anterior outline of the scale; in the latter respect they differ from the scales 
of O. gracilis, which have a rounded external border. The scales of the abdomen 
are long and angular, and present an imbricated or serrated border to that region. 
This species approaches most nearly to Osmeroides gracilis in size and form, 
though the latter is longer and more slender and graceful. The relative position 
and size of the fins of the two species varies considerably. In this one the dorsal 
fin is one-third shorter than in O. gracilis, and is situated at a greater distance 
from the head ; the ventral fin, on the contrary, occupies a more anterior position, 
and the consequence is, that in this species the ventral fin is 0-1 of an inch in 
front of the dorsal, whilst that of O. gracilis is opposite the posterior portion of its 
long dorsal fin, or about an inch behind its anterior rays. 
Formation and Locality.— Upper Cretaceous: Sahel Alma, Mount Lebanon. 
Ex coll.—Prof. Lewis; R. Damon, Esq., Weymouth, 
Osmeroides minor, Davis. 
(Pl. xxxm., fig. 2.) 
The small specimen now to be described appears to possess sufficiently dis- 
tinctive features to render the institution of a separate species necessary. The 
length of the fish, from the snout to the base of the tail, is 2°3 inches, and of this 
length the head occupies 0°9 inch. The greatest height is immediately behind 
the operculum, where it is 0°7 inch, and thence gradually diminishes to the 
peduncle of the tail, which is 0°3 inch. The body is well preserved, as are also 
the fins, with the exception of the anal. 
The head is comparatively large and angular, the frontal bones being produced 
forward ; the facial angle is acute. The post-orbital region of the head is 0:6 inch 
in height; this height is maintained for 0°5 inch forwards, and thence it becomes 
rapidly less to the termination of the snout. The jaws are long and straight; the 
anterior extremity is unfortunately absent. A number of small, straight, sharp 
teeth are visible, separated by small intervals from each other. Light fine 
branchiostegal rays, sharply curved backwards, are exposed below the jaws. 
The operculi are not well preserved ; parts of the enamelled surface have broken 
away, leaving the remainder somewhat fragmentary. They extended nearly the 
whole height of the head, and were narrow in proportion to the height; the 
number or form of the several components of the opercular apparatus cannot be 
identified. The orbit is small, and elevated in position, apparently surrounded by 
a series of large tympanic bones; others, which are probably the turbinals, are 
well-developed and large. 
The spinal column consists of forty-two vertebrz, of which nineteen or twenty 
are caudal, higher than long on the anterior portion of the body, but posteriorly 
