15 2 NEW SPECIMEN OP PEtOLIbOPHORtfS. 



bones ; and the ordinary scales, so far as preserved, are very finely 

 ornamented with rugae and posterior pectinations (figs. lc., Id.) 

 There are no enlarged ridge-scales either dorsally or ventrally. 

 These of the dorso-lateral and ventro-lateral regions are somewhat 

 broader than deep, while those of the middle of the flank are much 

 deeper than broad, though not very clearly shown. An insig- 

 nificant fragment of the right pectoral fin (pet.) occurs, besides 

 more satisfactory remains of dorsal fin-rays (fig. !&.). There are 

 traces of slender elongated fulcra at the base of the latter, and the 

 three stout anterior rays only become articulated and divided far 

 above their insertion, though then the sub-division is very fine and 

 close. 



The characters of Mr. Richardson's new fossil thus briefly 

 described are quite sufficient to place it with certainty in the genus 

 Pholidophorus ; but unfortunately they do not suffice to determine 

 how it shall be specifically named. Not do other similar specimens 

 from the Oxford Clay of Christian Malford, Wiltshire, now in the 

 British Museum, appear to assist much in this determination. It 

 can only be said that the species in question from the English 

 Oxford Clay is very similar to Pholidophorus macrocephalus from 

 the Lithographic Stone of Bavaria, and may possibly prove to be 

 identical with this fish. The species may, indeed, range upwards 

 into the Kimmeridge Clay ; for one imperfect head of Pholidophorus 

 from Kimmeridge Bay, now in the British Museum, exhibits 

 remarkably similar proportions and ornamentation. The imperfect 

 tail of one of the British Museum specimens is shown of the 

 natural size in fig. 2. The stout neural and haemal arches of the 

 vertebrae are observed clasping each other ; and there are remains 

 of minute rhombic scales on the atrophied upper caudal lobe. 



