al 
= 
* 
Short notices of American Fossil Fishes. 25 
Genus I. Pataroniscus, or Agassiz. 
In this genus the dorsal fin is found opposite the center of the 
interval between the ventral and anal fins ; and many species 
have been described by Agassiz, in his great work on fossil fishes. 
An imperfect speci 
greater or less deg ee, te 
genus, and would perhaps warrant their separation from the Pa- 
laeonisci. 'The raylets or armatures attached to the anterior mar- 
gins of the several fins are also strong, few in number and of un- 
equal length and inclination. The scales, and apparently, the 
vertebree, are prolonged into the upper lobe of the tail ; but toa 
more limited extent, than in the European species of the genus. 
1. Palaeoniseus fultus : Agassiz.—The specimen figured by 
Prof. Agassiz, is destitute of ae and head, as well as the 
upper portion of the body. The length was probably about four 
and a half inches ; but this is often exceeded in other specimens. 
The fins and their bony insertions appear stouter than in the P. 
latus, but_less stout than in some other species.* 
Found at Westfield,+ Middlefield,+ and Durham, in Connecti- 
cut; Sunderland, in Massachusetts; and Boonton, in New Jersey. 
2. Palaeoniscus latus: J. H. Redfield—Broad Palaeoniscus. 
The common length of this species is from four to five inches ; 
and its width from one and a half, to two and a quarter inches, 
It is figured in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural 
History, Vol. tv. . °” 
Found at Westfield, Middlefield, and Durham, Ct., and Boon- 
ton, N. J. 
3. Palaeoniscus macropterus: W.C.R.—Long finned Palae- 
oniscus. This species is distinguished by the longitudinal exten- 
sion of the dorsal and anal fins; which thus seem to present a 
remote resemblance to the wings or forked tail of the common 
swallow. Its length is commonly from five to seven inches; and 
its width from one and a half, to two inches. 
* Another specimen shown in the drawings of Prof. Agassiz, was copied from one 
of the early and imperfect figures published by Prof. Hitchcock. . 
_ + Westfield and Middlefield are outlying districts or parishes of the township of 
Middletown, in Connecticut. a 
Vol. x11, No. 1.—April-June, 1841. 4 
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