42 Correspondence — Mr. T. P. Barkas. 



EBTEROPSTLLIA MIRABILIS, DUNCAN. 



SiE, — The tone of Dr. Duncan's reply, and his reference to my 

 position, constrain me to decline further correspondence with him on 

 this subject. My wish was to settle the determination of the coral 

 in question, not the qualifications of palaeontologists. The only 

 points requiring notice in his remarks are, 1st., the assertion that 

 irregular fracture of the spines is exceptional, and the assumption of 

 anchylosis of the joint ; and 2nd., that no one has a right to criticise 

 his (Dr. Duncan's) work, who has not himself described fossils. 



The first begs entirely the question, and the evidence I have 

 adduced justifies me in disputing assertions, however authoritative. 



The second requires only to be stated for its assumption to be 

 apparent. John Young. 



HuNTEBiAN Museum, Glasgow, 

 December 5, 18G8. 



CLIMAX0BU8 OVATUS AND DIFZODUS. 



Sib, — Since my paper on the new palatal tooth, Climaxodus ovatus, 

 appeared in the Geological Magazine for November, 1868, I have 

 been fortunate enough to obtain three additional specimens. 



The general characters of the new specimens are the same as 

 those which I have already described, but their sizes differ and there 

 is considerable modification in their general outlines. Two of the 

 specimens present the front or ridged view, and one the back or curved 

 view of the teeth. The body of the tooth which presents the back 

 view is about 4-lOths of an inch in length and about 5-lOths broad, 

 and the root or attachment of the tooth is a trifle longer than the body 

 of the tooth itself. Of the other two teeth presenting front views, one 

 is 6-lOths of an inch long and 5-lOths broad, and the entire length of 

 tooth and root is 9-10 ths ; it is crossed by four distinct ridges. The 

 next tooth is 11 -20 ths of an inch broad and 9-20 ths long, and is 

 crossed on its lower half by five closely arranged ridges, the root or 

 process for attachment being 4-10 inch in length. The general 

 structure and appearance of the teeth resemble those previously 

 described. 



In the October Number of the Geological Magazine I offered to 

 forward specimens of Coal-measure fossils to any of your readers who 

 forwarded to me a stamped and addressed luggage-label. Several 

 have forwarded labels and received their specimens, but others do 

 not quite understand what I require to have sent me. 



Allow me again to state that as I have thousands of duplicate spe- 

 cimens (of which it would be a charity to relieve me) of teeth, scales, 

 ribs, vertebrae, spines, and other remains of Rhi%odus, Megalichthys, 

 Gyracanthus, Pleur acanthus, Diplodus, Ctenoptychius, etc., etc., I shall 

 be most happy to forward per Sample Post a parcel under four ounces 

 in weight to any of your readers who forward me an ordinary per- 

 forated luggage label, bearing their address and two penny postage 

 stamps for return postage. If any of your readers cannot conveni- 

 ently obtain a luggage label, their address and two postage stamps 

 will answer the purpose, as I shall find the label. — T. P. Babkas. 



Newcastle-on-Ttne, November, 1868. 



