372 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 10, 



length of the latter fish is 9i inches ; of this the head occupies within 

 a fraction of 3^ inches, or more than one-third. The greatest depth 

 of the body is 3 inches. The form of the head is elongated, and the 

 rostral portion is more acutely produced than is usual m this genus. 

 The lower jaw is of equal length with the upper jaw, and they are 

 both armed with similarly proportioned teeth, of a conical form ; 

 those in the anterior portion of the jaws being more elongated than 

 the more remote ones. 



The cranial and opercular bones are of considerable thickness, and 

 are uavested with a very compact enamelled casing. Small isolated 

 granules of shining ganoine are irregularly scattered over their sur- 

 face. The preoperculum differs from the other opercular plates in 

 having a more rugged and uneven surface. 



The bones constituting the thoracic arch are of considerable sub- 

 stance, more especially the coracoid bone, which is very strong and 

 flattened out at its posterior margin. Immediately behind the hu- 

 meral bones two or three broad irregularly-shaped scales occur, 

 coarsely notched on their hinder margins, and covered with an un- 

 usually thick coating of ganoine. 



The pectoral fins are about 2 inches in length. The rays com- 

 posing them are numerous, but not remarkably strong. The ventral 

 fins are inserted about half-way between the pectoral and anal fins. 

 The latter fin is situated near the tail. It is composed of ten rays, 

 the anterior one being fringed with a set of oblique osselets along its 

 border. The rays have frequent transverse articulations, and are 

 much subdi\-ided in the expanded portion of the fin. 



The dorsal fin, as generally happens in this genus, occupies a re- 

 mote position, commencing at a point behind the insertion of the 

 ventral fins, and extending beyond the anterior rays of the anal fin. 

 It contains twelve rays, corresponding very closely in form and dimen- 

 sions with those of the anal fin. A similar bordure of fulcral osselets 

 characterizes the anterior ray. Nothing remains of the caudal fin 

 save two or three of the elongated scales, indicating the commence- 

 ment of its superior lobe. 



The scales are for the most part smaller and more rectangular than 

 those of Lepidotus Deccanensis. The dorso- ventral series contara 

 about twenty, the longitudinal series about thirty. On receding 

 from the head they gradually lose their rectangular outline and be- 

 come more and more rhomboidal. A few scales in the vicinity of the 

 coracoid bone are considerably larger than those in any other region 

 of the body. Where the outer sm-face of the scale is preserved, it is 

 seen to be distinctly radiated, and pectinated on the posterior margin. 



In general appearance this species, although belonging to the more 

 elongated group of the genus, is not so slender as Lepidotus pecti- 

 natus or Lejridotus Deccanensis. Its most striking feature is the 

 imusually large proportion of the head to the total length. This 

 peculiarity serves to distinguish it from all the bpecies hitherto de- 

 scribed, and has suggested the propriety of the specific appellation. 



Lepidotus breviceps, Egerton. Plaie XII. fig. 2. 

 The evidence of a second species of Lepidotus among the ichthyo- 



