442 Searles V. Wood, Jim. — The Climate Controversy, 



no remarkable feature. The dorsal fin is represented by tbe base 

 and the extremity, all the intermediate portion being destroyed. It 

 was evidently a large organ, adapted for preserving the equilibrium 

 of the body ; and it is fair to presume, from the study of other parts 

 of the fish, that it was strengthened by fulcral rays on its anterior 

 margin. The ventral fins are composed of numerous rays, which 

 remain single for an inch or so from the base, but are subsequently 

 frequently bifurcated and closely cross-jointed. The anal fin is only 

 re^Dresented by a few fragmentary rays. The caudal fin was an 

 organ of extraordinary power. The pedicle or base is massive ; 

 from this the lower lobe springs, measuring 8 inches in length . It 

 contains about 30 strong rays, very much dichotomised, and with 

 numerous cross-joints — a construction calculated to give great flexi- 

 bility to the organ. The upper lobe springs from the terminal 

 vertebrae of the spinal column, which are turned abruptly upwards, 

 simulating heterocercy, but they do not extend into the upper lobe 

 of the organ. These are the only ossified portions of tlie skeleton 

 seen ; the spinal economy being probably notochordal. The upper 

 margin of the tail is furnished with a series of fulcral spines 

 or elongated scales, short and thick at the base of the fin, but 

 tapering gradually in succession as they ascend upwards. A more 

 delicate fringe borders the lower lobe. The extremity of the tail is 

 not preserved, but by continuing the converging outlines of the 

 upper lobe the result would be at least two inches in excess 

 of the termination of the lower lobe, or ten inches from base to 

 tip. A few scales are preserved in the vicinity of the ventral fins. 

 They are characterized by a somewhat irregular granular design, 

 the granules becoming in places confluent. A somewhat larger dis- 

 located scale occurs at a distance from those seen in situ, and an 

 opercular plate ; but as the surface -markings on these remains are 

 so difierent from those ascertained to have belonged to the fish, 

 1 hesitate to consider them as appertaining to it. 



From these details I am inclined to infer that the fish was a true 

 Notochordal Ganoid, more nearly allied, perhaps, to Eugnatlius, than 

 to any other known genus, although the position of the fins is 

 different. 



That it was a predaceous fish, and endowed with abnormal nata- 

 tory power, is clear from the contour of the body, lythe and lanceo- 

 late, and the great expanse and strength of the tail, which would 

 propel the monster with the velocity of a rocket through the water, 

 giving small chance of escape to the luckless denizens of the Liassic 

 sea which constituted his daily food. 



OuLTON Park, Sejyt. Vlth^ 1876. 



III. — The Climate Controversy. 



By Searles V. Wood, Jun., F.G.S. 



{Concluded from the September Number, p. 398.) 



JVb. 4. — The cause suggested under this head was the favourite 



theory of Sir Charles LyelL That the existing climates are 



materially influenced by the distribution of land and water, and by 



the direction of the great ocean currents, physicists and geologists 



