FOSSIL FISHES, 29 
eight (?); caudal fin strongly forked, three inches wide in fish twelve inches 
long, unsymmetrical, upper lobe longest; scales universally large and thick; 
those of dorsal line less strongly spined than in other large species of the 
genus; boat-shaped scale covering anterior base of dorsal fin relatively small, 
rounded before, pointed behind, not notched; rows of scales on sides more 
oblique than in other large species; those on the middle and anterior 
portions of the body square or oblong, slightly higher than broad. 
This large and fine species was named by W. C Redfield, but was never 
described. It is referred to in his paper,’ and I find a specimen from Sun- 
derland, Mass., bearing this name in the Redfield collection at Yale College: 
In pursuance of my plan to secure to W. C. Redfield all the fruit of his labor 
in this field [have adopted it, and now supplement the name with a detailed 
description. 
So far as known this species only occurs at Sunderland, Mass., where 
a number of fine specimens have been procured, one of the best of which 
may be seen in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, to 
which institution, with many other fossil fishes, it was presented by the late 
Robert L. Stuart. This, like a number of others which I have seen, has 
a length of about twelve inches, but the species probably attained somewhat 
greater dimensions. The body is broadly or more narrowly fusiform, the 
widest portion being midway between the dorsal fin and occiput. In general 
form it resembles Ischypterus Agassizii, but attains greater dimensions and 
may be distinguished at a glance by the larger size of its scales and the more 
oblique position of the rows on the sides 
In general aspect this fish has much resemblance to some species of 
Lepidotus, all of which are characterized by their relatively large and thick 
scales. The resemblance of Ischypterus to Lepidotus has been referred to, 
and it is evident that they are closely allied, but as a whole the species of 
the former genus are smaller and are distinguished by the more salient row 
of spiny scales along the dorsal line, and by a greater prolongation of the 
upper lobe of the tail. 
1Proc, Am. Assoc, Ady, Sci., Albany meeting, 1856, pt. 2, p. 188, 
