252 Mr. J. D. C. Sowerby on a remarkable Fossil Bone. 



Art. XXXIV. Description of a remarkable Fossil found 

 in Coal Shale: with Observations. Bi/ J.D. C. Sowerby, 

 Esq. F.L.S. 



This fossil is of a lanceolate form and very slightly curved ; 

 beneath, it lias a deep longitudinal canal with rounded edges, to- 

 wards one of which the curvature is inclined ; above, it is very 

 convex, from the edges of the canal a number of sharp ridges pass 

 obliquely over the surface, until they meet at acute angles directed 

 towards the point, in the middle of the opposite side ; for some dis- 

 tance on each side of the part where they meet these ridges are 

 divided into small short spines. The larger end of the fossil tapers 

 almost to a point, and for a considerable distance along it is desti- 

 tute of those ridges that are connected together and form a coat 

 upon the remaining portion. Internally it contains numerous, ir- 

 regular, elongated, sinuose innosculating cavities, divided from 

 each other by a compact substance which is rather browner than 

 the shale, the cavities are filled with carbonate of lime of a dirty 

 white colour ; the ribbed coat is solid. 



The specimen above described was communicated by Mr. Taylor 

 of Bishops Wearmouth ; it was found among a multitude of vege- 

 table remains, in Shale, containing rather an unusual quantity of 

 Mica, in Felling Colliery. 



Suspicions have been entertained that this fossil is a seed-pod, 

 or a shell resembling a Pinna ; its internal structure however, suf- 

 ficiently proves that it is neither a vegetable nor a shell ; and as 

 this structure corresponds to that of the fossil bones found in the 

 Lias, there can hardly remain a doubt as to its real nature ; the 

 only difficulty is to ascertain its situation in the skeleton, and 

 the Genus of animals to which it may be referred with some pro- 

 bability. 



Judging from the size and number of the cells that composed it, 

 it appears to have been very light when recent, and therefore be- 

 longed in all likelihood to a Bird, or to an Aquatic Animal, but 

 most probably to a Fish. Observing that a portion of it is destitute 



