BETTER LUCK. 125 



and the size of its nodules had diminished con- 

 siderably since its first discovery, the centre of the 

 bed, the tomb of the largest ichthyolites, having 

 long since been despoiled of its treasures. Enough, 

 however, remained to encourage a trial. Need I 

 say with what energy I commenced operations, or 

 how hopefully I continued to work until I had 

 extracted nearly a hundred nodules, few of which, 

 however, contained anything worth preserving. 

 Gradually, rny zeal was beginning to flag, when 

 suddenly one of a form rather unusual, and of 

 considerable size, attracted my attention, as it 

 stuck half-way out of the marl. Instead of being 

 oval, the portion that protruded was rather oblong, 

 but the angles were unequal. In fact, when re- 

 moved, it represented roughly, but correctly, the 

 outline of a fish, the obtuse end of the sarcopha- 

 gus enclosing the tail, the opposite extremity 

 being rounded, while even the dorsal and ventral 

 fins had their corresponding projections. With 

 what breathless suspense did I apply the hammer ! 

 A vertical blow soon separated it into two parts, 

 and the chisel gradually revealed to my delighted 

 eyes, first the anterior half, then the remaining 

 portion of a beautiful Off tholepin. The bones 

 of the head, which are generally found to be dis- 

 located, were nearly in their proper places, while 



