Reviews — J. W. Davis — Lebanon Fishes. 419 



The Phj'^sostomous fishes are placed in the families of Siluridae, 

 Scombresocidce, Esocidae, Halecidge, Hoplopleuridas, and MurjenidEe. 

 The first of these becomes a convenient " refuge " for two remarkable 

 genera, whose characters appear to be unique. Coccodus has already 

 been so determined by Pictet, and the new materials described by 

 Mr. Davis add very materially to our knowledge of the skeleton of 

 the fish. There is an anteriorly directed spine upon the top of the 

 bead ; the body seems to have been scale-less ; and the notochord 

 persistent. Another fish, known only by a single specimen, destitute 

 of the head, is named Xenopholis carinatus, and presents very 

 different characters. The body is covered with imbricating bony 

 scutes ; the dorsal and anal fins are long and opposite, and the latter 

 possesses two small robust spines in front ; while the pelvic fins are 

 abdominal, consisting of 12 or 13 rays, all soft. 



Of the ScombresocidEe, a small flying fish is described under the 

 new generic name of Exocoetoides, and considered to be closely allied 

 to the living Exocoetiis. Beautiful specimens are figured, showing 

 all the more characteristic features of the genus. Another interest- 

 ing novelty is a well-preserved example of Isticeus from Sahel Alma, 

 — a form hitherto only discovered in the Upper Cretaceous of West- 

 phalia. This is named I. lebanonensis, and Mi\ Davis follows Agassiz 

 and W. von der Marck in assigning the genus to the Esocid^. 



The great families of Salmonidte and Clupeidse are next treated 

 together under Agassiz's convenient name of Halecidaa. Six new 

 species of Osmeroides are determined ; one of Sardiniiis ; one of 

 Opistopterijx ; five of Chipea ; and one doubtful species of EngrauUs. 

 There are also two new forms of Spaniodon. The section uj^on 

 Osmeroides commences with a general notice of the genus, particu- 

 larly referring to the important researches of W. von der Marck, 

 but unfortunately omitting a reference to Laube's recent remarks 

 upon the skeletal anatomy of the first (Denkschr. Akad. Sci. 

 Wien). The species are then carefully desci'ibed in detail, with 

 numerous illustrative figures ; and two specimens are interesting as 

 showing well-preserved ova, though the author does not appear to 

 have recognized these, merely noting them as " masses of rounded 

 granular substance spread over the abdominal region." Sardinius 

 crassapinna is another important new member of the Lebanon Chalk 

 fauna; and the type specimen of Opistopti'ryx curtus exhibits the 

 skeleton of the latter genus in an unusually perfect state. Proceed- 

 ing to the long series of species of Clupea, we hardly feel convinced 

 of the propriety of assigning some of the forms described to this 

 genus ; C. Leioisii, for example, has a remarkably Elopine aspect, 

 and there are others whose connection with Clupea does not, at first 

 sight, seem well established. Closely related to these is Leptosomiis, 

 of which Mr. Davis has found nothing to add to the original 

 descriptions. Some notes on Chirocentrites follow, and then an 

 interesting detailed account of the species of Spaniodon, and of a 

 nearly allied fish believed to represent a new genus, Leioisia. 



The remainder of the Halecidse are referred to this group with, 

 more hesitation. The author removes to this position the remarkable 



