Prof. Owen's Description of the Lepidosiren annectens. 331 



Behind the upper lip there are eight similar papillose processes, four on each 

 side ; the mesial placed one line behind, or within the margin of the lip ; the 

 outermost three lines from the same part: immediately anterior to the inter- 

 space of the two outer lamellae is the orifice of the nostril, which is elliptical, and 

 one line in the long diameter; the olfactory cavity* itself is three lines in the 

 long diameter, and its closed posterior part is occupied with two rows of small 

 transverse lamellse, about twenty in a row, divided by a transverse line. 



There are two small slender, conical, sharp-pointed and slightly recurved 

 teeth f, which project downwards from the intermaxillary bone, to which they 

 are attached by ligaments ; and the alveolar border of both the upper and 

 lower maxillaries is armed with a strong trenchant dental plate:}: anchylosed 

 to the bone, and divided at the middle line so as to form four distinct pieces, 

 two above and two below ; each of these teeth or dental plates is impressed 

 on its outer side with two broad angular notches, extending almost through 

 the whole breadth of the plate, and dividing it into three angular processes^, 

 which, from the direction of the notches, appear to radiate from the inner 

 and posterior angle of the tooth : the two anterior divisions in both the upper 

 and lower jaws are the most produced in the vertical direction, and are 

 pointed so as to be adapted for piercing : the posterior divisions are most ex- 

 tended in breadth, and least in height, and terminate in a sharp trenchant 

 edge ; the middle divisions present an intermediate structure. These teeth, 

 in their paucity, relative size and mode of fixation to the maxillae, resemble 

 those of the Chimgera and some of the extinct cartilaginous fishes, as Cochliodus 

 and Ceratodus ; but they are unlike these in their microscopic structure, and 

 differ from any known dental apparatus in the class of Fishes in the modifica- 

 tions of the working surface which at once adapt them for piercing, cutting 

 and crushing. The strength of the jaws and the size of the muscles which 

 work them are proportionate to the size and formidable character of the max- 

 illary dental plates. 



There are no lingual, palatine, pterygoid, vomerine or pharyngeal teeth. 



The general colour of the specimen was a mixed tint of dark olive-green 

 and brown, growing lighter towards the belly, with irregular dark spots, as 



* Tab. XXVII. fig. 2, e, e. f Tab. XXIII. fig. 4, a. Tab. XXVII. fig. 2. a. 



X Tab. XXIII. fig. 4, /3, y. Tab. XXV. fig. 4. § Tab. XXVII. fig. 2, 6 & c. 



