242 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FOSSILS. 



and dorsal fins are each supported by spines. The pectoral 

 spines are the longest : they are broad, flat, and scimitar- 

 shaped, with flattened ends. Along the anterior margin 

 of the spine there is a deep parallel groove. The remaining 

 spines are similar in character but smaller. The contour 

 of the head is not accurately defined in any of our specimens. 

 Probably this portion of the fish was not sufficiently ossified 

 to be preserved. The small, narrow, bony plates which 

 encircled the orbits are frequently preserved. The upper 

 surface is beautifully ornamented with fine tubercles. The 

 small stiliform bones of the lower jaws are occasionally 

 found, but no specimen showing the dentition of the fish 

 has yet occurred. 



Position and locality : Deep mine ironstone, Longton ; 

 Brown mine ironstone, Silverdale; Knowles ironstone, 

 Fenton ; Moss and Ash coal shales, Longton. 



FAMILY CCELACANTHI, AGASSIZ. 

 GENUS CCELACANTHUS, AGASSIZ. 



Ccelacanthus Upturns, Agassiz. (Ref., Ag. Poiss. Foss., 

 vol. 2, Mem. Geol. Survey, Dec. 12.) Many specimens 

 of this curious fish, varying in length from two inches to nearly 

 two feet, have been collected in this coal-field. Coelacanthus 

 had a wide range in time, being found in the lowest beds 

 and passing through to the uppermost bed. The body of the 

 fish is covered with thin cycloidal scales, the free surface 

 being ornamented with narrow, nearly parallel ridges " which 

 converge towards and meet along a line drawn through 

 the centre and point of the scale." When in situ, this 

 portion of the scale is alone visible. It has two dorsal 

 fins, which, like the other fins, are supported by fine, long, 



