94 Proceedings of the Royal Plysical Socvety. 
on the opposite side are developed shorter heemal ones. There 
are no ribs. 
4, There are no paired limbs. 
Is Palewospondylus possibly a larval form? If so, where is 
the adult? The other fossil Vertebrata of Achanarras are 
all common fishes of the Orcadian Old Red Sandstone area, 
and to none of them (not even Coccosteus) can parental rela- 
tionship to this little creature be ascribed. Moreover, the 
high condition of differentiation of its vertebrae render the 
larval theory extremely improbable. 
It seems, indeed, impossible to refer the organism to any 
existing vertebrate class, unless it be the Marsipobranchii or 
Cyclostomata, an alliance from which the calcification of the 
notochordal sheath in the form of ring vertebrae need not 
exclude it, though, to repeat my previous expression, it is a 
“yather startling idea.” It is, however, better to avoid any 
appearance of dogmatism in this matter, and to wait in hopes 
that fresh material may throw still more light upon the 
structure of this strange relic of early vertebrate life. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. 
Fig. 1. Paleospondylus Gunni, Traq,; magnified three diameters. From 
a specimen collected by Mr Donald Calder, of Thurso. 
Fig. 2. Head of another specimen, not eroded ; magnified five diameters. 
Fig, 8. The first six vertebral centra of another specimen, seen from below ; 
magnified eight diameters. 
Figs. 4 and 5. Two heads as they usually occur, showing the effects of 
weathering or erosion. 
IX. On Scorpzena dactyloptera, Delaroche, and its Occurrence 
im the British North Sea Area. By WM. EAGLE CLARKE, 
Ksq., F.L.8., M.B.0.U. [Plate IT.] 
(Read 15th March 1893. ) 
The first occurrence of this deep-sea fish on the coasts 
of Great Britain may be considered worthy of some- 
thing more than a mere record of the details relating to that 
1] prefer to render this anthority’s name as he himself has given it. It 
is, however, quoted as ‘‘ De la Roche” and ‘‘de Laroche” by authors. 
