200 FISHES. 



cido:, represented by several very distinct genera : Beryx ; 

 Pseiuloberyx with abdominal ventral fins ; Berycopsis with 

 cycloid scales; Homonotus, Stcnostoma,Sphc7iocci3lialiis, Acaniis, 

 Hoploptcryx, Flatycornus with granular scales ; Podocys with 

 a dorsal extending to the neck ; Acroy aster, Macrolcpis, 

 Rhaeolcpis from the chalk of Brazil. The position of Pycnos- 

 terynx is uncertain, it approaches certain Pharyngognaths. 

 True Pcrcidce are absent, whilst the Caranyidm, Sphyrcenidm, 

 Cataphracti, Gohiidce, Cottidce, and Sparidm are represented 

 by one or more genera. Somewhat less diversified are 

 the Physostomes, which lielong principally to the Chipieidce 

 and Dercetidw, most of the genera being extinct ; Clupea is 

 abundant in some localities. Scopdidce {Hemisnurida and 

 Saurocephcdus) occur in the cliallv of Comen in Istria, and of 

 Msestricht. Of all cretaceous deposits none surpass those 

 of the Lebanon with regard to the number of genera, species, 

 and individuals ; the forms are exclusively marine, and tlie 

 remains in the most perfect condition. 



In the Tertiary epoch the Teleosteans have almost entirely 

 replaced the Ganoids ; a few species only of the latter make 

 their appearance, and they belong to existing genera, or, at 

 least, very closely allied forms {Lcpidostcus, Amia, Hypamia, 

 Acipcnser). The Chondropterygians merge more and more 

 into recent forms ; Holocephali continue, and still are better 

 represented than in tlie present fauna. The Teleosteans 

 show even in the Eocene a large proportion of existing 

 genera, and the fauna of some localities of the Miocene 

 (Oeningen) is almost wholly composed of them. On the 

 whole, hitherto more than one-half have been found to belong 

 to existing genera, and there is no doubt that the number 

 of seemingly distinct extinct genera will be lessened as the 

 fossils will be examined with a better knowledge of the living 

 forms. The distribution of the fishes differed widely from 



