NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FOSSILS. 235 



crown, with a constricted neck much like the Globulodus 

 of Munster." 



Position and locality : Knowles ironstone, Fenton. 



Mesolepis scalaris, J. Young, M.D. (Ref., Quart. Jour. 

 Geol. Soc,, vol. xxii., p. 313.) The body of this fish is 

 more arched in the dorsal region than in the last species. 

 The scales are similar in shape ; the scale ornament is 

 " arranged in close-set ridges over the middle two-thirds 

 of the scale ; above and below the ridges, irregular tubercles, 

 and towards the posterior margins, sinuous tubercular lines.'' 

 The peduncle of the tail is shorter than in M. Wardi, and 

 the lobes of the tail are narrower and much more prolonged. 

 The rarity of this and the other species, and the imperfect 

 condition in which they usually occur, prevent a more detailed 

 description of their character being given. 



Position and locality : Knowles ironstone, Fenton ; 

 Cockshead ironstone, Adderley Green. 



FAMILY PLATYSOMID^E, YOUNG. 

 GENUS PLATYSOMUS, AGASSIZ. 



Platysomus parvulus, Ag. (Ref., Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., 

 vol. xxii., p. 303.) The genus Platysomus is common in 

 the Knowles and Brown mine ironstones. P. parvulus is 

 a small, flat fish about three and a half inches in length 

 and two inches broad at the broadest part. The head is 

 triangular, and about one-fourth of the length of the body. 

 The body is covered with oblong scales, higher than they 

 are broad, and ornamented with fine, parallel striae : the 

 crests are frequently crenelated. The mandible is a short, 



