322 Mr. A, S. Woodward on an 



representing a liitlierto unknown genus Pronotacanthus *, 

 while Anguilla kakelensis is an undoubted eel with blunt 

 teeth and a differentiated small caudal tin, which will shortly 

 be described under the generic name of Urenchelys'f. Evi- 

 dence of a second species of the latter from Sahel Alma will 

 also be made known. 



There is thus no doubt that tlie Apodal fishes date back to 

 the Cretaceous period. The object of the present paper is to 

 show that they occur even in the English Chalk. A well- 

 preserved skull of a typical eel from the Lower Chalk of 

 Clayton, Sussex, is to be recognized in the Willett Collection 

 in the Brighton Museum. Thanks to the kindness of Edward 

 Crane, Esq., F.G.S., I have had the privilege of studying 

 this fossil and comparing it with the crushed remains from 

 the Lebanon. It is shown of the natural size from both sides 

 in PL IX. figs. 1, la. 



The cranium in this specimen is very narrow and elongated, 

 and its bones are remarkably stout. The roof in the parietal 

 and frontal regions rises into a sharp median longitudinal 

 ridge, and the occipital border also seems to be raised. The 

 supraoccipital is not preserved, but the anterior portion 

 doubtless of the parietal bones (pa.) is produced forwards as 

 a tapering point between the hinder ends of the frontals (,/V*.), 

 of which considerable portions are destroyed. The squamosals 

 are not seen, but there is a sharp postorbital prominence evi- 

 dently formed by ihe cartilage-postfrontal or sphenotic (sp.). 

 The precise shape and limits of the ethmoidal rostral region 

 {m.) are uncertain, the specimen being crushed and imperfect. 

 The mandibular suspensorium is well displayed on each side, 

 the upper articulation of the expanded hyomandibular (km.) 

 extending as far forwards as the sphenotic. The articular 

 end of the quadrate {qu.) for the support of the mandible is 

 directly beneath the spiienotic. So far as tliey can be distin- 

 guished, the metapterygoid and entopterygoid appear to be 

 delicate ; but a bone which is probably the ectopterygoid (ec.) 

 is stouter and may have borne teeth. A still larger and 

 stouter external bone in the upper jaw is doubtless the 



* Differing from recent genera in exhibiting dorsal fin-supports without 

 either fin-rays or spines attached to them (Catal. Foss. Fishes B. M. 

 pt. iv). 



t Teeth small, bluntly conical, in numerous series. Slender branchio- 

 stegal rays not curving round opercular apparatus. Vertebrae about 100, 

 the hindevmost bearing a pair of hypurals. Pectoral fins present ; dorsal 

 fin arising immediately behind occiput and extending to the small caudal 

 fin, which is separate. Scales rudimentary. (Catal. Foss. Fishes B. M. 

 pt. iv.) 



