34 Dr. R. H. Traquair — Neiv Carboniferous Fish-remains. 



I have little doubt but that this form is the Eschara BanvilUana of Michelin. In 

 his figure the areolation is slightly more angular than in the part shown in the 

 figure. Jules Haime has classed a somewhat similar form as D. lamellosa. 

 D'Orbigny's Eschara or Elea triangularis is evidently a very similar form. 



Fig. 5 belongs to a group of dendroid forms very abundant in the Oolites. The 

 specimen from which the figure is taken is probably Splropora ccespitosa of 

 Haime. The group bears several other generic names, such as Oricopcra, 

 Intricoria, Entiilophora, Idmonea, etc. The shape and character of the cell varies 

 much in the same coenoecium or plant. The change from the tubular to the 

 Cheilostoniatous type is exhibited in this group by the same gradation of shape as in 

 the Escharoids, but the variety of shape assumed is different. In many of the 

 specimens the pimctured siirface of the coenoecium and cell lids is well preserved. 



Fig. 6 is taken from another dendroid form, which exhibits an extreme modifi- 

 cation of the tubular cell. Its peculiar character is evidently due to the cells 

 growing almost at right angles from the centre to the surface of the stem, and 

 expanding as they grow. This mode of growth produces a very enlarged orifice, 

 too large to be covered by an ordinary operculum. It is accordingly covered with 

 a fixed membrauo- calcareous integument, in the centre of which a small secondary 

 orifice is provided. 



This specimen is from the Inferior Oolite beds at Arromanches, in Normandy. It 

 would apparently be classed as a Laterocea by D'Orbigny and as Melicertites or 

 Escharites by other authors ; see Hagenow's Salpingia. The cell growth and 

 arrangment is much the same as that of Myriozoum. 



Fig. 7 is taken from the common Eschara foliacea of the present seas. It is 

 drawn to the same scale as the previous figm-es. The part sketched has been 

 slightly calcined to reduce it to the same condition as the Oolitic specimens. A 

 comparison of this figure with Fig. 2 shows that the divergence of this living 

 Cheilostomatous Escharoid from the OoKtic Diastoporidce is very slight. The 

 punctation or perforation of the coenoecium is coarser. The orifices are sunk, and 

 the opercula have too little calcareous matter in their composition to retain their 

 shape when burnt. The cells are shorter, but their narrow oblong shape is very 

 visible when the surface is removed. 



Fig. 8 represents a portion of the coenoecium of a recent B. patina, Busk. 

 It shows a stiiking difl'erence in the character of the central decumbent cells and 

 that of the protuberant cells, which generally rise from the margin of these 

 ccencecia. The punctation of the older opercula in this form is identical with that 

 of the Oolitic forms figured above. The orifices in the decumbent cells are all 

 elliptical and closed ; those in the protuberant cells are round and open. 



V. — Notice of New Fish Eemains from the Blackband Iron- 

 stone OF Borough Lee near Edinburgh. 



By Dr. R. H. Traquair, F.G.S. 



THE Blackband Ironstone, at present extensively wrought at 

 Borough Lee, Dryden Vale, about 6|- miles to the south-east 

 of Edinbui-gh, is a member of the Middle Division of the Carboni- 

 ferous Limestone Series. It abounds in fish remains, most of them 

 unfortunately in a fragmentary and scattered condition, nevertheless 

 many of these are clearly new to science. Such of these new forms 

 as are most distinctly marked I propose to notice in the present 

 communication : the list will, howevei", doubtless be considerably 

 extended by additional patient research, and we may also hope, that 

 some further light will be thrown on the fishes, to which some of 

 these fragments belonged. 



