420 Reviews— S. P. Malet—'' SimUght:' 



genus EurypJiolis, from its more usual place in the Hoplopleuridse, 

 adding one new species, and showing that Pictet's E. longidens must 

 be regarded, at least in part, as representing a hitherto unrecognized 

 genus, for which he proposes the name of Eurygnathus. This is a 

 fish of extreme interest, as are also two others referred to new genera, 

 Pantopliolis and Fhylactoceplialus. These forms belong to a type 

 apparently w^ell represented in Cretaceous seas, and are suggestive 

 of some interesting considerations in regard to the affinities of the 

 primitive Teleosteans of later Mesozoic times, to which, it is to be 

 hoped, the author will return in greater detail on some future occa- 

 sion. We would wish to know something further, for example, 

 concerning the obvious connection between Eurygnathus and En- 

 chodus — especially as Prof. Cope, so long ago as 1875, showed that 

 the latter was a truly Physostomous fish, having no affinities with 

 the Trichiuridee, as previously supposed, and is still erroneously 

 maintained in the monograph before us. 



A large number of fine specimens of Bliinelltis are described, 

 indicating no less than six new species, and the author then proceeds 

 to consider an equally unique series of Leptotrachehis, representing 

 the family of Hoplopleuridse. These fossils are preserved in the 

 British Museum, and reveal almost all the hard parts of the fish. 

 L. triqueter is described in great detail, and Mr. Davis makes known 

 a new variety of this form, in addition to another, which is con- 

 sidered specifically distinct. He also gives reasons for concluding 

 that no true Dercetis has been found in the Lebanon Chalk, and that 

 Pictet's D. linguifer was probably founded upon a fragment of 

 Leptotrachehis triqueter. A figure of Aspidoplewus cataphractus is 

 likewise added, and this genus included in the same family. 



In conclusion, Mr. Davis makes an important contribution to 

 philosophical ichthyology by bringing forward the first evidence 

 hitherto discovered of a Mesozoic eel. Two species, referred to 

 Anguilla, are figured and described, the one from Hakel and the 

 other from Sahel Alma ; and the specimens are fortunately suffi- 

 ciently complete to leave not the slightest doubt as to their family 

 relationships. 



As will be gathered from this brief resume, the author is to be 

 congratulated on having contributed to fossil Ichthyology one of the 

 most extensive works of recent years ; and its value is doubly 

 enhanced by the careful drawings of Miss E. C. Woodward, who has 

 executed the fine series of illustrative plates. A. S. W. 



11. — Sunlight. By the Author of " The Interior of the Earth." 

 Second Edition, pp. 180. (London, Triibner and Co., 1887.) 



IN this little work the author (Mr. H. P. Malet) asks for the 

 " serious consideration " of his " simple suggestion, that light 

 was the first cause of the creation of this earth, acting on a nebulous 

 mass that held in it gases or material sensitive to, absorptive, and 

 retentive of that light." "In other words, a nebulous, chaotic mass 

 was converted into air, water, and solids by the action of sunlight 

 on gases sensitive to that force." He finds that there is actually no 



