Short notices of American Fossil Fishes. 25 



Genus I. Palaeoniscus, of Agassiz. 



In this genus the dorsal fin is found opposite the center of the 

 interval between the ventral and anal fins ; and many species 

 have been described by Agassiz, in his great work on fossil fishes. 

 An imperfect specimen from this country he has designated as 

 the P . f II If us ; referring to the stout character of the fins and 

 their insertions. But this character is also found to pertain, in a 

 greater or less degree, to all the known American species of this 

 genus, and would perhaps warrant their separation from the Pa- 

 laeonisd. The raylets or armatures attached to the anterior mar- 

 gins of the several fins are also strong, few in number and of un- 

 equal length and inclination. The scales, and apparently, the 

 vertebras, are prolonged into the upper lobe of the tail ; but to a 

 more limited extent, than in the European species of the genus. 



1. Palaeoniscus fultus : Agassiz. — The specimen figured by 

 Prof. Agassiz, is destitute of the dorsal and head, as well as the 

 upper portion of the body. The length was probably about four 

 and a half inches ; but this is often exceeded in other specimens. 

 The fins and their bony insertions appear stouter than in the P. 

 latiis, but less stout than in some other species.* 



Found at Westfield,! Middlefield,f and Durham, in Connecti- 

 cut ; Sunderland, in Massachusetts ; and Boonton, in New Jersey. 



2. Palaeoniscus latus : J. H. Redjield. — Broad Palaeoniscus. 

 The common length of this species is from four to five inches ; 

 and its width from one and a half, to two and a quarter inches. 

 It is figured in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural 

 History, Vol. iv. 



Found at Westfield, Middlefield, and Durham, Ct., and Boon- 

 ton, N. J. 



3. Palaeoniscus macropterus : W. C. R. — Long finned Palae- 

 oniscus. This species is distinguished by the longitudinal exten- 

 sion of the dorsal and anal fins ; which thus seem to present a 

 remote resemblance to the wings or forked tail of the common 

 swallow. Its length is commonly from five to seven inches ; and 

 its width from one and a half, to two inches. 



* Another specimen shown in ilie drawings of Prof. Agassiz, was copied from one 

 of the early and imperfect figures published by Prof Hitchcock. 



t Westfield and Middlefield are outlying districts or parishes of the township of 

 Middletown, in Connecticut. 



Vol. xLi, No. 1.— April-June, 1841. 4 \ 



