the Karoo Formation of South Africa. 397 
Atherstonia, with one exception, namely, the considerable 
deepening of the flank-scales ; and, in the absence of further 
evidence, it may be doubted whetier such a character is truly 
of generic value. The fish is therefore referred provisionally 
to Atherstonia. 
Specific Determination.— W hatever be the generic position 
of the fish, the proportions and ornamentation of the scales at 
once distinguish it specifically from all known Paleoniscids 
and Platysomids; and it may be appropriately named in 
honour of the discoverer. 
form. and Loc.—Beaufort Beds (Lower Karoo); Klip 
Fontein, on the farm of the Brothers Erasmus, S.W. of 
Fraserburg, Nieuwveldt Range, Cape Colony. 
4. Undetermined Paleoniscid Fish. 
(Pl. XVII. fig. 4.) 
There is evidence of another Palzoniscid fish from the 
Karoo formation in an imperfect specimen, of which the 
caudal region is shown of the natural size in Pl. XVII. fig. 4 
Tt cannot, however, as yet be generically or specifically deter- 
mined. ‘The trunk is elongate-fusiform and completely 
covered with rhombic scales ; the upper caudal lobe is attenu- 
ated. ‘he pelvic fins are relatively small and the dorsal fin 
is remote, almost as large as the anal and directly opposed to 
the latter. The dorsal and anal fins are triangular, about as 
deep as broad, and each is fringed with a conspicuous series 
of small fulera. The caudal fin is forked, apparently almost 
symmetrical, and all the rays of the median fins exhibit well- 
spaced articulations. The scales are too imperfectly preserved 
to exhibit anything beyond their relative proportions ; and the 
course of the lateral line cannot be distinguished. None of 
the flank-scales appear to be deeper than broad, and no 
enlargement of the ridge-scales can be observed except on the 
upper caudal lobe and ‘perhaps at the origin of the anal fin. 
The specimen is preserved in coarse sandstone, exhibiting 
a stain of mineral matter almost parallel with its margin, and 
its interest centres specially in the fact that it was discovered 
in a stratum not hitherto known to yield fish-remains. It is 
preserved in the Museum at Pietermaritzburg. 
Form. and Loc.—Sandstone referred by Mr. Draper to the 
Molteno Beds (part of the Lower Stormberg series of the 
Karoo formation), 150 feet above the main coal-seam; Suther- 
land’s Quarry, Biggarsberg, Natal. 
