PALAEONTOLOGY 



In the family Platysomatidae the two recognized representatives of 

 the genus Mesolepis, namely M. ivardi and M. scalaris, were described from 

 Staffordshire specimens, the first alone being known elsewhere, and then 

 but doubtfully. Mesolepis, it may be mentioned, is characterized by the 

 very deeply fusiform contour of the trunk, which is angulated at the 

 back-fin, as is also the head. Finally the type genus Platysomus, in which 

 the body is fully rhomboidal, is represented by P. parvulus, a species 

 named on the evidence of specimens from the Knowles Ironstone Shale 

 of Fenton. Chirodus granulatus is another member of the family of which 

 remains have been obtained from the Staffordshire Carboniferous. 



Towards the close of his career the late Mr. John Ward, who did so 

 much for the palaeontology of the country, contributed (in conjunction 

 with Mr. J. T. Stobbs) to the transactions of the North Staffordshire Field 

 Club 19 a paper on a newly discovered fish-bed in the Cheadle Coalfield, 

 with notes on the distribution of fossil fishes in that district. The 

 remains occur in a bed overlying the Cobble Coal, and are referable to 

 Acanthodes ivardi, Gyracanthus fumosus, Lepracanthus colei, Pleuracanthus 

 cylindricus, Pleuroplax rankinei, Helodus simplex, Sphenacantbus hybodoides, 

 Ctenoptychius apicalis, Megalichthys hibberti, M. coc cole pis (?), Strep sodus 

 sauroides, Elonichtbys semistriatus, E. aitkini, Platysomus parvulus, and 

 Goelacanthus elegans. All are well-known species, but a few, like Lepra- 

 canthus co/ei, are unknown elsewhere in the county. 



"Vol. xi,87 (1905-6). 



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