428 



PETRIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. 



CHAP. V. 



lection ; and on the top of the Case a splendid specimen from 

 Sussex, consisting of the anterior part of an enormous fish. 

 The largest fragments of some of the Wealden Lepidoti 

 indicate the total length of the fish to have been twelve or 



LIGN. 87. SCALES AND FIN-RAY OF LEPIDOTUS MANTELLI. TILGATE FOREST. 



Fig. 1. Scale, with a single process of attachment. 

 2. One of the scales of the dorsal line. 



3. Scale (external surface), with a bifurcating process of attachment. 

 4. Scale (viewed on the inner surface), showing the lateral processes. 

 5. The front RAY of the dorsal fin, covered with two rows of enamelled 

 scales, and two other rays behind it. 

 (nat. size.) 



fourteen feet ; and the width of the body from three to four 

 feet. 



These fishes resembled the Carps in their general outline 

 but have no anatomical relations, to that family. The jaws 

 are short and rounded, and furnished with rows of ob- 

 tuse hemispherical teeth the head, and even face, were 

 encased with osseous enamelled plates, which are often found 

 separately imbedded in the rock; there are several large 

 examples in the collection. The dorsal and pectoral fins are 

 very strong, and consist of several bony rays. There is a 

 double row of acuminated, enamelled scales, arranged ob- 



