242 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



portion of a head and some remains of the rays of the pectoral 

 fin, the latter consisting of unjointed rods, thus indicating 

 that the principal rays of this fin were nnarticnlated till 

 towards their terminations. A specimen in the collection of 

 Dr Hunter of Braidwood is more entire, though unfortunately 

 wanting the head ; here, however, the pectoral fin is shown as 

 well as the dorsal and part of the caudal, the position of the 

 dorsal being far back, and the general form of the body 

 slender and tapering. 



Description. — The most perfect example (that belonging to 

 Dr Hunter) measures 2| inches from the root of the pectoral 

 fin to the end of the mutilated caudal ; allowing for its defi- 

 cient parts, the length of the fish could not originally have been 

 less than 3J inches. The scales of the flank are nearly 

 equilateral, measuring y\ inch in height by about the same 

 in breadth ; the articular spine is well marked, the covered 

 area very narrow. The exposed surface is marked in the first 

 place by four or five longitudinal elevations or ridges com- 

 mencing in prominent denticulations of the posterior margin, 

 and running forwards for some distance on the scale parallel 

 with the superior and inferior margins ; the lower ones, how^ 

 ever, tending to a slight obliquity. In front of these are a 

 few delicate and closely set grooves parallel with the anterior 

 margin, and at the anterior-inferior angle turning round, and 

 running parallel with the inferior one, so far as the slight 

 upward obliquity of the lowest of the longitudinal ridges 

 affords them space. The scales on the belly are, as usual, 

 low and narrow, posteriorly they also get gradually smaller, 

 and their distinctive sculpture less strongly marked. The 

 pectoral fin appears moderate in size, though its extremity is 

 lost ; its principal rays are unarticulated, so far as they are 

 seen. Neither ventral nor anal is visible. The dorsal arises 

 opposite a point If inch behind the root of the pectoral ; only 

 a few of its rays are preserved, these being very delicate, and 

 divided by distant transverse articulations. The caudal 

 commences ^ inch behind the anterior margin of the dorsal ; 

 this is proportionally a small interval for Bhadinichthys, but 

 the very disturbed state of the scales here gives very reason- 

 able ground for belief that the distance has been shortened by 



