240 Mr. A. S. Woodward on Atherstonia. 



removed by an unfortunate line of joint in the rock. The 

 trunk is elongate- fusiform, the head and opercular apparatus 

 occupying about one fifth of the entire length ; and the maxi- 

 mum depth of the trunk before crushing would also bear a 

 similar proportion to the length. The upper lobe of the tail 

 is extremely produced and slender. The mandibular sus- 

 pensorium is very oblique and the head and opercular bones 

 are externally ornamented with tubercles and rugte ; but no 

 details can be observed of the cranial osteology. 



Appendicular Skeleton. — The tins are all tolerably well 

 preserved except the caudal, which, as already remarked, is 

 paitly broken away. They all consist of broad, laterally 

 compressed, and closely arranged rays, frequently articulated, 

 and with distal bifurcation ; and, most probably, judging 

 from a small specimen mentioned below, there is a series of 

 minute fulcra upon the anterior margin of the preaxial ray. 

 In the pectoral fins at least eight or nine rays are unarticu- 

 lated in the proximal half of their length ; but all seem to be 

 closely jointed distally and are also perhaps bifurcated. The 

 pelvic fins are remarkable for the length of their base-line ; 

 each consisted probably of about eighteen or twenty rays, 

 gradually decreasing in length posteriorly, and all are dis- 

 tinctly articulated quite from their point of insertion. The 

 dorsal fin arises behind the posterior extremity of the pelvic 

 pair, and the anal fin is so remote that even its first rays 

 scarcely oppose the hinder portion of the dorsal. Each of 

 these median fins is longer than high, the anal being espe- 

 cially elongated and consisting of not less than forty-five or 

 fifty rays, of which the seventh or eighth is the largest and 

 followed by gradually shortening rays posteriorly. 



Sqtiamation. — The trunk is completely invested in a cover- 

 ing of thick rhomboidal scales, united by peg-and-socket 

 joints, except towards the extremity of the tail, and exter- 

 nally ornamented with delicate branching ridges, though with 

 a smooth posterior edge. There is considerable variation in 

 the size and proportions of the scales in different parts, those 

 in the middle of the flank of the abdominal region being 

 largest and those at the base of the insertion of the fins the 

 smallest. The middle flank-scales (fig. 2) are deeper than 

 broad, with a very prominent peg-and-socket articulation; 

 and the usual internal rib appears to be only developed in 

 those situated more posteriorly and upon the caudal region. 

 Ventrally — and also dorsally in the caudal region — the scales 

 become rapidly broader than deep, until the breadth is often 

 twice as great as the depth. At the base of the dorsal and 

 anal fins there is also a singular diminution of the size of the 



