26 Short notices of American Fossil Fishes. 
Found at Westfield, Middlefield, and Durham, Ct. ; Sunder- 
land, Mass. ; and Boonton, N. J. 
4. Palaeoniscus ce: : W.C. R.—Large Palaeoniscus. 
To this, which is the largest of the American species yet discov- 
ered, I propose to affix the name of this distinguished naturalist. 
Its length, in the specimens hitherto obtained, varies from seven — 
and a half, to ten inches, and its width fre 
The fins, with their armatures and i 
remarkable thickness than in the species 
large scales or plates which belong to the anterior portion of the 
dorsal line, are commonly found doubled together at their lateral 
edges, by the incumbent pressure, which gives them the appear- 
ance of short spines, or flattened rays ; and hence these are some- 
times mistaken for an anterior comb-like dorsal. 
The same appearance is found, not unfrequently, in some of 
the smaller species above noticed, andi in two of the figures which 
were published by Prof. Hiteheock, these narrowed and erected 
scales are made to appear as a fringe-like dorsal fin. Prof. Agas- 
siz has been led to place one of the figures thus drawn, in his ge- 
nus Hurynotus, under the name of. Ei. tenuiceps. The speci- 
men thus figured, was probably a P. datus, or perhaps belonged 
to another undescribed species. 
a three to four inches. 
5. Palaconiscus ovatus: W. C. R.—Wide, or round-shaped 
Palaeoniscus. ‘This species is shorter than P. Agassisii, and ex- 
ceeds all the known American species in the comparative width 
or roundness of its form; and is also remarkable for the large 
size of its scales. It is of rare occurrence, and owing probably’ 
to its great thickness, is seldom obtained ina perfect form. This 
fossil also exhibits the — erections of the dorsal scales 
which have been noticed abov 
Found at Westfield and Middlefield, Ct. ; Sunderland, Mass. ; 
and Boonton, N. J. 
Genus If. Caroprerus, or J. H. Reprieiy.* 
This genus is characterized by the backward position of the 
dorsal fin, which is nearest the caudal extremity and opposite to 
the anal fin. It is also distinguished by the articulated and 
delicate form of the rays which compose the several fins. The 
anterior margins of the latter are fringed with numerous small ray- 
* Described in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Nat. Hist. Vol. rv. 
& 
