234 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FOSSILS. 



to be identical with the original specimen. The scales 

 are rotundo-quadrate, the anterior portion ornamented with 

 fine, concentric strias, the posterior or free surface covered 

 with broad, broken undulations which appear like tubercles. 

 Near the centre of the scale there is a small raised tubercle 

 or boss. Doubt has been expressed whether this boss is 

 on the upper or under side of the scale. Dr. Young 

 (Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc., vol. xxii., p. 600) affirms that it 

 is on the under side. Roemer, * on the contrary, describes 

 it as being on the upper surface. 



Position and locality : Brown mine, Kidsgrove ; Deep 

 mine, Knowles, and Chalky mine ironstones, Longton and 

 Fenton. 



FAMILY MESOLEPID^E, YOUNG. 

 GENUS MESOLEPIS, YOUNG. 



Mesolepis Wardi, J. Young, M.D. (Ref., Quar. Jour. Geol. 

 Soc., vol. xxii.) The genus Mesolepis is at present restricted 

 to this coalfield. The body in M. Wardi is of an ovate form 

 and covered with oblong scales, rather broad in proportion 

 to their height. In the dorsal and ventral halves they 

 appear to be shorter than in the middle of the body. The 

 upper surface of the scales is ornamented with short 

 vertical ridges. The caudal root is long and much broader 

 than in Platysomus. In none of our specimens are the 

 bones of the head sufficiently preserved to enable us to 

 distinguish the component parts. In one or two specimens, 

 however, the teeth are well shown. These, according to 

 Dr. Young (op. cit), are very similar to those in Platysomus 

 macrurus, " presenting a bluntly conical minie-bullet-shaped 



* Zeitschr Deutsch Geol. Gesellsch, p. 272, 1805. 



