MOODIE : CRETACEOUS FiSHfiS. 281 



Measurements of the specimen of Empo nepaholica Cope : 



Entire length of the alimentary canal as preserved . . 53.2 cm. 



Greatest diameter at anterior end 10 



Least diameter, across pyloric region 3 



Greatest diameter of posterior enlargement 7.4 



Length of pectoral fin as preserved 9 



Greatest width of fin 3.7 



Length of first ray 8 



Width of first ray 2 mm. 



Diameter of large scale 15 



Thrissopater intestinalis new species. 



A species of clupeoid fish is represented in the University 

 Museum by the remains here described as a new species. The 

 form is located in Thrissopater of Giinther, described from the 

 Gault of Folkstone in 1872 (12). My thanks are due Dr. A. 

 Smith Woodward for the suggestion of a comparison of the 

 present form with that of Thrissopater. It was thought for a 

 time that the present form represented a genus distinct from 

 Thrissopater. The distinguishing character was thought to be 

 found in the position of the pelvic fins, which has served as a 

 generic character in other fishes. In Thrissopater salmonens 

 the pelvic fin is opposite the dorsal and in the present form it is 

 distinctly posterior to it. There is, however, a great range of 

 variation in the position of the pelvic fin, especially among the 

 lower osseus fishes. My thanks are due Prof. E. C. Starks for 

 aid in reference to the characters of the modern bony fishes. 

 During the summer of 1909 the writer spent some weeks study- 

 ing with him the fishes of Puget Sound. He first called the 

 writer's attention to the wide variation of the location of the 

 pelvic fin in the clupeoid fishes. This variation is easily un- 

 derstood when it is remembered that the pelvic fin lies free 

 from any firm attachment and hence its variation in location 

 would not mean as much as though it were attached to the 

 scapular arch. Further aid was rendered the writer in de- 

 termining the characters of the clupeoid fishes by Dr. W. G. 

 Ridewood, of London. An examination of the essays of this 

 gentleman has been of great service. 



The absence of material for direct comparison with the 

 species of Thrissopater makes it best to locate the present 

 form temporarily in that genus. The systematic position of 

 Thrissopater has been the subject of a wide variance of 

 opinion. Dr. Giinther regarded Thrissopater as closely allied 

 to the modern Clupeidae and located it {13) in that family, in 

 which he also included such forms as Spaniodon, Albvla, Flops 



