470 Mr. E. L. Gill on an undescrihed Fish 



remarkably powerful fin-fulcra, below and behind which are 

 seen parts of two or three dermal rays, un jointed in the 

 length that is preserved. The fin was apparently based on 

 a saddle-like lobe of the back ; the rays must have been few, 

 and must have sprung mainly from the posterior margin 

 of the saddle, where the line of the back fails abruptly 

 to the tail-shaft. The saddle is apparently covered by 

 narrow scales in relation with the fulcra ; they may even be 

 the bases of the fulcra themselves. The anal fin, as a whole, 

 is placed a little further back than the dorsal, and is based 

 on a similar lobe of the body, similarly covered by narrow 

 scales, which in this case seem to be a modified continuation 

 of the two rows of more ordinary scales covering the lower 

 flank in front of them. As with the dorsal fin, the front 

 margin of the anal is protected by strong acutely-pointed 

 fulcra. Of these, the first, immediately behind the anus, is 

 short, and is followed by three more which show a graded 

 increase in length ; after which are seen the first two of 

 the true fulcra based on the first dermal ray. Parts of 

 six rays are preserved, and there is only room for one or 

 two more. So far as they are seen, they are unjointed. 

 Of the caudal fin nothing remains beyond a few of the 

 fulcra bordering its ventral edge ; but these are of quite 

 extraordinary size and length, and suggest a well-developed 

 fin. The specimen gives no hint as to the form and 

 squamation of the caudal body-lobe. The only one of the 

 paired fins of which anything is seen is the left pelvic, and 

 ol: this only three or four fulcra of graded length are 

 preserved, though there are rather ill-defined impressions of 

 three dermal rays behind them. The pelvic fin was evidently 

 narrow-based and probably rather long. 



Of the general systematic position of this fish there can be 

 little doubt. The patterns of the maxilla and of the lower 

 jaw, together with the presence of well-developed infra- 

 clavicles, associate it at once Avith the Palfteoniscidse. But 

 it possesses characters which altogether exclude it from any 

 known genus of the family. A rostrum slightly overhanging 

 the front of the mouth is a common Palaeoniscid character, 

 but in no known member of the family is it developed into a 

 long and massive snout such as is carried by this fish. The 

 squamation also is entirely uncharacteristic of the family. 

 The scales in the Paloeoniscidse are typically small; Eury- 

 lepis has deep scales on the flanks, and some other genera 

 (e. g., Cmiobius^ Holurus, and Atherstonia) have enlarged 

 ridge-scales, but the combination of these characters with 



