412 MESSRS. HANCOCK AND ATTHEY 



in a fine state of preservation ; the contour is perfect, with the 

 exception of that of the head, which is moderately developed in 

 proportion to the body ; the cranial bones, however, are dislo- 

 cated and thrust a little forward ; but apparently the head would 

 not project much were they restored to their natural positions. 

 The dorsal margin, from the occipital crest to the root of the 

 tail, is regularly and deeply convex ; so is the ventral margin in 

 its whole extent from the clavicle downwards ; the body of the 

 fish, including the head, is therefore almost circular. The pec- 

 toral fins appear to have been well developed, but they are badly 

 displayed ; the ventrals are also very indistinct, though sufficient 

 of one of them is seen for verification :* the dorsal and anal are 

 well preserved ; they are placed opposite to each other, termi- 

 nating in front of the caudal peduncle, and anteriorly near the 

 centre of the body ; the anterior portion of each is considerably 

 prolonged, and the articulations of the rays are much longer than 

 wide. The caudal fin is well developed, with the lobes, which 

 are nearly of equal length, only slightly recurved at the extre- 

 mities. 



The scales (PI. XV., fig. 2) are rhomboidal, long, narrow, and 

 exceedingly delicate, the thickening of the anterior margin being 

 very inconspicuous at the surface, so that the usual ribbed ap- 

 pearance is scarcely observed : the upper surface is finely and 

 regularly striated longitudinally, the striae being raised a little, 

 undulated, and almost parallel to the margins of the scale ; they 

 occasionally bifurcate, and, though minute, are relatively strong 

 and few in number, there being not more than eight or ten on 

 each scale. The length of the scale, including the peg, is five- 

 sixteenths of an inch ; the peg is long and pointed. The occi- 

 pital crest, all the bones of the head, gill-covers, clavicle, and 

 mandibles are striated in the same manner as the scales. The 

 mandibular teeth are minute, conical, and pointed ; those of the 

 maxillaries are of the same character, but more minute ; on the 

 premaxillaries they seem a little larger. 



* As the existence of ventrals in Platysomus has been doubted, we take this opportunity 

 of stating that a specimen of P. parvulus in our possession displays distinctly the pectoral, 

 ventral, and anal fins, the form of one of the ventrals being well defined: it is small and 

 narrow. 



