Frqf. E. R. Lewis— Localities for Fossil Fish in the Lebanon. 217 



from Hakel has been systematically examined. In mentioning the 

 above I do not include the species known by teeth only or by single 

 scales. M. L. Lartet speaks of a scale found near Hasbeya in the 

 Anti-Lebanon, teeth of Lanina from Neby Musa (page 111) ; and Dr. 

 Praas (Aus dem Orient, page 109) refers to teeth, etc., collected by 

 Dr. Eoth near Jerusalem, and identifies four species. My remarks 

 here are confined to Lebanon localities, of which the number 

 hitherto known is two, Htikel and Sahel Alma, and these will be 

 described further on ; but during this last summer I visited a new 

 locality which I have never seen mentioned. It is called Hazhula 

 (Djoula on the French military chart). It lies nearly south of 

 Hakel, and distant from it about two hours and a half over a 

 wretched road. The locality is in the outskirts of a most miserable 

 Metawali village, and the rock a friable limestone, which, in many 

 of the specimens, is very pulverulent, breaking into thin layers and 

 crumbling to pieces when the specimen is trimmed with the hammer. 

 At least, such is the case with most of the specimens which have 

 been exposed to the atmosphere a long time, as had those which I 

 collected. The species are the same as those found at Hakel, but 

 certain parts are better preserved. I obtained there several specimens 

 of Aspidopleurus cataphractus, Pict. et Humb., with the singular scales 

 of the species beautifully preserved. I am not certain that I have 

 obtained any of this species at Hakel, and, since I have had several 

 hundreds of specimens from Hakel, including all the known species, 

 I have queried whether the specimen described by Pictet came from 

 Hakel, and was not rather brought to Hakel from Hazhula. The 

 species at any rate is rare at Hakel. At Hazhula, I obtained five 

 examples during my short stay. Besides this species, I obtained 

 several specimens of EnrypTiolis Boissieri, Pict, ; Beryx vexillifer, 

 Pict. ; Cyclohatis oligodactylus, Egerton ; several Cliipea of various 

 species, and two or three kinds of Crustacea. I was able to be in 

 the place only two hours, and was sufficiently annoyed in that time 

 by the clamour for " backsheesh," and the demand made by twenty 

 at a time to buy whatever was offered. But in the short time I was 

 there, and notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances in which 

 I was placed while there, I obtained about fifty good specimens 

 picked up from road and hill-side. The exact place from which the 

 stone came was very near by, but I did not see and examine it, so 

 excited and clamorous did the ignorant fanatical people become, 

 threatening to break all I had collected, frightening my muleteer, 

 etc., etc., led on by a few who pretended that I was seeking treasures. 

 It required considerable tact and a great waste of Arabic to get off 

 with my donkey load of specimens, and as it was, I had to send the 

 muleteer ahead, and bring up the rear myself with a faithful atten- 

 dant. The locality is an interesting one, and I shall revisit it as 

 soon as possible. 



I have said that Hakel is the oldest known locality, though it has 

 been rarely visited, I know of none who have visited it except M, 

 Humbert, and recently Dr, Fraas, The former, only, has published 

 anything concerning the place. It can be reached in one hard day 



