Actinopterygii PercomorpJii. 115 



The true " Wrasses " (Ldbrus) appear to be represented in Table-case, 

 the Eocene of Monte Bolca, and an extinct family, the No ' 53> 

 Pharyngodopilidse, is indicated by some pharyngeal dental 

 plates from the London Clay of Sheppey, and the Lower 



FIG. 161. Pharyngeal dentition of Phyllodus petiolalus, Owen ; London Clay, Sheppey. 



Tertiaries of the Continent. To the latter belong Phyllodus 

 (Fig. 161) and Pharyngodopilus (Nummopalatus^) , and of the 

 first-named genus, the collection now comprises nearly all the 

 type-specimens described in Prof. Cocchi's Monograph on these 

 fishes. Phyllodus is so called on account of the leaf-like shape 

 of the entire pharyngeal dentition, and the separate teeth com- 

 posing this are very thin and constantly replaced by vertical 

 successors, which are arranged in little piles beneath the 

 functional ones. 



The remarkable fragments of dentition from the London 

 Clay, known as Egertonia, and those from the Bracklesham 

 Beds termed Platylcemus, are also supposed to be referable to 

 extinct Pharyngognathi. Taiirinichthys, from the French 

 Miocene, is also placed here. 



SUB-ORDER XII. Percomorphi. 



PterygoeepJialus, from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, seems to 

 represent the " Blennies " (Bleniidaa) : extinct species of 

 " Gobies " (Gobiidee) are also found in the same formation, and 

 in the Infusoiial Earth of Oran, Algeria. 



Petalopteryx, with huge pectoral fins, from the Cretaceous of Table-case, 

 Mount Lebanon, is perhaps an old "Flying-fish" one of the No ' 54 

 Cataphracti. And the closely-allied " Millers' Thumbs " and 

 " Gurnards " (Cottidas) are represented in the Middle Tertiaries. 

 Lepidocottus, almost identical with the living Cottns, except in 

 possessing a covering of scales, is found in the Miocene of the 

 Puy-de-D6me, France ; and a large series of these fishes is 

 exhibited. 



9 2 



