442 



PETRIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. 



CHAP. V. 



,. SMERDIS. (S. minutus.} Wall-case C. Certain strata of the eocene 

 formation near Aix in Provence, abound in fossil shells, plants, insects, 

 and fishes. The elegant little fish named Smerdis, a genus belonging 

 to the tribe of Percoids, with two dorsal fins, and seven branchiostegous 



LiGN.91. SMERDIS MINUTUS; EOCESE STRATA, Aix, IN PROVENCE. 



(nat.size.) 



rays, occurs in shoals, often grouped together in great numbers in the 

 same slab of laminated limestone, and in every variety of position. 

 There are numerous specimens in this Case, which were formerly in my 

 collection. 1 The Smerdis minutus is from one to three inches long, 

 and about the dimensions of a perch a year old. 



MONTE BOLCA ICHTHYOLITES. Wall-case O. The Ichthyolites of 

 Monte Bolca must be familiar to the reader, for in consequence of the 

 abundance and beauty of these fossils, specimens are to be seen in, 

 almost every cabinet of organic remains. They are found in a tertiary 

 cream-coloured fissile limestone, that generally splits in the direction in 

 which the fishes are imbedded; hence the perfect animal, from the 

 muzzle to the tail, with its fins expanded, is often obtained. 2 Keferring 

 to " The Wonders of Geology," p. 265, for an account of these deposits, 

 I can only state, in brief, that there are in the collection under exami- 



1 The Chalk Ichthyolites in the British Museum, amounting to several 

 hundred specimens, were, with but few exceptions, collected by me. 

 The beautiful state of these fossils when in my possession, called forth 

 the following remarks from M. Agassiz : 



" Tout le monde sait que le Muse"e de M. Mantell & Brighton, est tine 

 collection classique pour la Craie et la formation Veldienne. Les soins 

 minutieux que M. Mantell a donnes depuis bien des annees & ces fossiles, 

 les ont rendus plus parfaits que tous ceux des autres muse'es ; car souvent 

 il est parvenu & les detacher entierement de la roche dans laquelle ils se 

 trouvaient, ou du moins & les produire en relief, en d6tachant toutes les 

 matieres solides qui recouvraient les parties les mieux conservees de 

 1'animal." Recherclies sur les Poissons Fossiles, par M. Louis Agassiz. 



2 See " Wonders of Geology," p. 260. 



