the Karoo Formation of South Africa. 397 



Atherstonia, with one exception, naraelj, the considerable 

 deepening of the flank-scales ; and, in the absence of further 

 evidence, it may be doubted whether such a character is truly 

 of generic value. The fish is therefore referred provisionally 

 to Atherstonia. 



Specific Determination. — Whatever be the generic position 

 of tiie fish, the proportions and ornamentation of the scales at 

 once distinguish it specifically from all known Paleeoniscids 

 and Platysomids ; and it may be appropriately named in 

 honour of the discoverer. 



Form, and Loc. — Beaufort Beds (Lower Karoo) ; Klip 

 Fontein, on the farm of the Brothers Erasmus, S.W. of 

 Fraserburg, Nieuwveldt Range, Cape Colony. 



4. Undetermined PaJcnoniscid Fish. 

 (PI. XVII. fig. 4.) 



There is evidence of another Palseoniscid fish from the 

 Karoo formation in an imperfect specimen, of which the 

 caudal region is shown of the natural size in PL XVII. fig, 4. 

 It cannot, however, as yet be generically or specifically deter- 

 mined. The trunk is elongate-fusiform and completely 

 covered with rhombic scales ; the upper caudal lobe is attenu- 

 ated. The pelvic fins are relatively small and the dorsal fin 

 is remote, almost as large as the anal and directly opposed to 

 the latter. The dorsal and anal fins are triangular, about as 

 deep as broad, and each is fringed with a conspicuous series 

 of small fulcra. The caudal fin is forked, apparently almost 

 symmetrical, and all the rays of the median fins exhibit well- 

 spaced articulations. The scales are too imperfectly preserved 

 to exhibit anything beyond their relative proportions ; and the 

 course of the lateral line cannot be distinguished. None of 

 the flank-scales appear to be deeper than broad, and no 

 enlargement of the ridge-scales can be observed except on the 

 upper caudal lobe and perhaps at the origin of the anal fin. 



The specimen is preserved in coarse sandstone, exhibiting 

 a stain of mineral matter almost parallel with its margin, and 

 its interest centres specially in the fact that it was discovered 

 in a stratum not hitherto known to yield Hsh-remains. It is 

 preserved in the Museum at Pietermaritzburg. 



Form, and Loc. — Sandstone referred by Mr. Draper to the 

 Molteno Beds (part of the Lower Stormberg series of the 

 Karoo formation) , 150 feet above the main coal-seam ; Suther- 

 land's Quarry, Biggarsberg, Natal. 



