Bihliographical Notice. 489 



originally described by Pictet, but not subsequently noticed, 

 it may be of interest to add a few notes which will be of 

 service in eventually determining their true relationships. 



Pcujellus libanicus is represented by two specimens which 

 seem to be correctly placed in one and the same species, 

 Tlie first (Pictet's fig-. 2) exhibits about 2 4 vertebrse, of which 

 half are abdominal and half caudal. The hinder abdominal 

 vertebra} are shown to bear very strong downwardly-directed 

 transverse processes. Tlie clavicle bears a considerable 

 laminar expansion, and there is also a long and slender post- 

 clavicle. The pectoral fins seem to have been laterally 

 placed, with the pelvic pair directly beneath tliem. Tlie 

 pelvic fin-rays cannot be counted. The dorsal fin comprises 

 three small spines, gradually increasing in length, followed 

 by 13 or 14 slender articulated and bifurcating rays. It is 

 uncertain whether there are more than two short spines in 

 front of the anal fin, which shows 10 or 12 soft rays. The 

 second specimen (Pictet's fig, 8) confirms the characters of 

 the vertebral column and dorsal fin already noted. Neither 

 fossil exhibits satisfactory remains of the head and scales. 



6. Pycnosterinx dorsalis, Pictet, op. cit. p. 17, pi. li. fig. 3. 



The description of the fossil thus named can be readily 

 verified, so far as it extends. The articulations of the dorsal 

 and anal fin-rays are rather distant, as in the so-called 

 Pagellus. The dorsal fin seems to have comprised three 

 gradually lengthening spines, though only the hinder two are 

 clearly shown in the fossil ; and these are much shorter than 

 the 8 or 9 soft rays which follow and give the fin an acuminate 

 form. The anal fin exhibits three spines similarly lengthening, 

 but considerably stouter than those of the dorsal; and these 

 are followed by about 6 soft rays. 



BIBLIOGKAPHICAL NOTICE. 



The Farmer and the Birds. By Edith Caekington. With Preface 

 by Canon Tristram, F.E.S. London : George Bell and Sons. 

 8vo. 1898, 



The object of this little compilation is a good one and the jjlan of 

 it is methodical ; but, unfortunately, like most works of a similar 

 class, it asserts more than can be proved in some cases, and some 

 things which can be disproved in others. The authoress also appears 

 not to have had access to a very extensive library, whilst some of 

 the books freely quoted from are themselves compilations, and very 

 few (with the exception of Lydekker s Natural History and one or 

 two works by Miss Ormerod, Mr. 0. V. Aplin, and the Rev. Theodore 

 Wood) can be regarded as recent. 



