■488 On Cretaceous Fishes from Mount Lebanon. 



From this description it is evident that 0. megapterus does 

 not belong to the same genus as the typical Osmeroides 

 lewesiensis from the English Chalk. So far as the parts 

 preserved admit of judgment, indeed, the fish must ba 

 referred to the Scopeloid genus Sardinioides of W. von der 

 March *. 



4. Clupea laticauda, Pictet, op. cit. p. 39, pi. vii. fig. 3. 



It is doubtful whether any of the supposed species of 

 Clupea from the Cretaceous of Mount Lebanon are correctly 

 referred to this genus ; but there are none more readily 

 separated from it than the so-called Clupea laticauda, of 

 which the type specimen still remains the sole known example. 

 This small fish is very unsatisfactorily figured by Pictet ; 

 but, on account of the absence of jaws, its precise affinities 

 cannot be determined even by renewed examination in the 

 light of present knowledge. In the cranium the frontal bones 

 are partly preserved, and an impression of the outer faca of 

 their hinder portion seems to exhibit a lateral ornamentation 

 in the form of tuberculated radiating lines. The parasphenoid 

 is straight and comparatively thick; but the jaws are quite 

 unrecognizable. The vertebra} appear to have been nearly 

 50 in number, half of them caudal ; and the centra, which 

 show fine longitudinal striations, are shorter than deep. One 

 caudal vertebra seems to exhibit a lateral keel. The ribs 

 are somewhat expanded proximally, and do not completely 

 encircle the abdominal cavity. The pectoral fins are very 

 delicate, crushed, and displaced. The pelvic fins comprise 

 much stouter rays (probably 9 or 10) with robust supports, 

 and are inserted far forwards. The dorsal fin exhibits 19, 

 the anal fin 13 supports. There are slightly sinuous fulcral 

 rays above and below at the base of the caudal fin, which is 

 incomplete distally. There are no ridge-scales of any kind, 

 and the squamation must have been either very delicate or 

 absent. An impression of coprolitic matter, filling a 

 comparativel} 7 slender intestine, occurs along the greater part 

 of the abdominal region. 



This fish probably belongs to the same family as Enchodus 

 and Pomognathus. In many respects it is very suggestive 

 of the latter genus ; but it is distinguished among other 

 features by its more numerous vertebras. 



5. Pagellus libanicus, Pictet, op. cit. p. 11, pi. i. figs. 2, 3. 



The Acanthopterygians of the Cretaceous period are still 



very imperfectly known, and few are assigned to their correct 



systematic position. While, therefore, not attempting to 



express an opinion on the affinities of the two species 



* Pafceontogr. vol. xi. (1863), p. 45. 



