282 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Mar. 25, 



quantities occur of the bones of small animals, such as frogs, lizards, 

 shrews, and minute rodents, which may be taken up by the handful 

 unmixed with larger bones. The mammaliferous band " No. 93," 

 where most productive, does not exceed 5 inches in thickness. If 

 the excavations could be carried into a line of section where the bed 

 is thicker, it does not seem too much to hope that they might be re- 

 warded by the discovery of larger mammals, when we consider the 

 numerous acquisitions to Palaeontology which have been made within 

 the last two months alone from Purbeck, and the improbability that 

 a fauna already proved to have been so extensive, should have been 

 restricted to small creatures only. Further, where herbivorous mam- 

 mals are shown to have existed, it would seem in the highest degree 

 improbable that they should have been limited to a single genus con- 

 taining two small species like Plagiaulax. 



March 25, 1857. 



The Rev. John Montague and William Sowerby, Esq., were elected 

 Fellows. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. Palichthyologic Notes. No. 9. On some Fish-remains 

 from the neighhourhood of Ludlow. By Sir Philip de 

 Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., F.G.S. 



[Plates IX. and X.] 



At the request of Sir Roderick Murchison I have undertaken the 

 examination of some specimens of Fossil Fishes, discovered by Mr. 

 Salwey and Mr. Lightbody — by the former in the Old Red Sand- 

 stone of Acton Beauchamp, and by the latter in the Upper Bone- 

 beds in the neighbourhood of Ludlow. I have performed this task 

 with some reluctance, in consequence of the scanty number and de- 

 fective condition of the specimens submitted to examination, being 

 strongly impressed with the inconvenience which results from the 

 attempt to define genera and species upon insufficient data, the cha- 

 racters so expressed being liable hereafter to alteration or modifica- 

 tion, as our knowledge of the subject becomes enlarged by the 

 discovery of more perfect materials. 



It is no less fortunate than singular that, concomitant with the 

 earliest discovery of Cephalaspid remains in England, the contem- 

 poraneous beds in Scotland should have furnished the clue to their 

 true character; it is still more singular, but less fortunate, that, 

 although so many years have elapsed since Professor Agassiz first 

 recognized their Ichthyic affinities, and although so many zealous 

 and talented explorers have since been ransacking the English locali- 



