FOSSIL FISHES. 7 
the preceding species will be seen by comparing the latter figure with that 
of a corresponding portion of the body of C. Iedfieldi given on Pl. XV, 
Fig. 3. : 
CATOPTERUS MINOR, N. sp. 
Pl. XVH, Figs. 1-4. 
Fishes robust, fusiform, five to six inches in length by one and a half 
inches in diameter at widest part, which is immediately behind the pectoral 
fins; head depressed, conical, pointed, all head bones covered with coarse 
granulations of enamel; clavicles marked with strong longitudinal plica- 
tions; fins triangular or faleate, sharp-pointed; caudal deeply forked, lobes 
gracefully arched, acute; dorsal and anal fins opposite; radial formula as 
follows: Pectorals—fulera twenty-seven, rays six; ventrals—fulera eight- 
een, rays five; anal—fulcra twenty-four, rays twenty long and _ three 
shorter on anterior margin; dorsal—fulcra three, rays fifteen; caudal— 
rays thirty long, three shorter above and below, thirty-six in all; lower 
lobe—fulera thirty, with three large fulcral scales at base; upper lobe— 
fulera eighteen, with three fulcral scales, which are succeeded forward by 
four large peltate scales on dorsal line, reaching half way to base of dorsal 
fin; scales quadrangular, nearly uniform in size; on the lateral line forty- 
two, which are marked by mucous tubes; about twenty-four in the vertical 
rows on the side near the head; those of the median line ovoid or polygonal; 
surface of all the scales on the anterior portion of the body ornamented 
with raised lines; on the nape and abdomen part of the scales carry one 
or two raised lines parallel with the margin and converging to the pos- 
terior point; on the side near the head all the scales are obliquely tray- 
ersed by raised and often beaded lines, which terminate in acute denticu- 
lations of the posterior margin. From Durham, Conn., I have obtained, 
through Mr. Loper, quite a number of small specimens of Catopterus, which 
are of nearly uniform size —about five inches in length by one and a 
quarter in width—all lying partly upon the abdomen and showing the line 
of median scales upon the back. This proves that the body was round, 
or perhaps somewhat flattened vertically; the head is small, depressed, 
pointed; the scales of the posterior portion of the body highly polished; 
those of the anterior ornamented with raised lines and having the posterior 
