360 CHARLES R. EASTMAN 



robust, its maximum depth twice as great as that of the caudal pedicle. 

 Anal and paired fins situated as in the typical species (C. granulatus 

 Ag.) , the greater part of the caudal and both dorsals not preserved. 

 Operculum and cheek-plates ornamented with numerous fine antero- 

 posteriorly directed spiniform ridges, their position being indicated 

 in the worn condition by faint tubercles. Scales ornamented with 

 numerous fine raised lines of ganoine, more or less continuous and 

 rectilinear in arrangement, but when worn assuming the appearance 

 of elongated tubercles. Lateral line scales with prominent raised 

 tubules directed parallel with the body axis. 



The characters serving chiefly to distinguish the present form 

 from other species may be enumerated as follows: (i) The delicate 

 spiniform ornamentation of the operculum and cheek-plates, together 

 with the form and disposition of the latter; (2) the peculiar form of 

 the mandibular ramus ; (3) details of superficial scale ornament ; and 

 (4) prominence of the lateral line canal. Owing to the defective 

 preservation of most of the fin structures, it is impossible to say in 

 what respects, if any, these differ from the prevailing type. The 

 cranial structure, however, offers a number of interesting points of 

 comparison with other forms, as will be immediately pointed out. 

 Be it noted in passing that the totality of characters by no means 

 indicates a primitive forerunner of the family, but on the contrary 

 bespeaks a typical Coelacanth as completely developed as any subse- 

 quent form with which we are acquainted. In this respect the Kinder- 

 hook species resembles the only well known British Coelacanth of an 

 age anterior to the Coal Measures, namely C. huxleyi, from the 

 Calciferous sandstones of southern Scotland. 



With reference to the skull it is to be noted that the cranial roofing- 

 bones are missing in the type specimen, and that a portion of the head 

 in advance of the orbits has been fractured in such manner as to strip 

 off the maxillary and other facial elements, at the same time exposing 

 the anterior spatulate portion of the parasphenoid, together with the 

 steeply inclined triangular palatine plates that abut against it on 

 either side. The inferior border of the palatines, parasphenoid and 

 vomer appears to have suffered somewhat from chemical corrosion, 

 in consequence of which no indications of teeth are anywhere visible. 

 Possiblv for the same reason no teeth are to be observed along the 



