^^1- 55-] ^^^^ FROM THE ISLE OE WIGHT. 3 



for description, as they materially assist in the elucidation of the 

 structure of these interesting fishes. 



That these British remains are closely related to the Amia-like 

 forms recorded by Marsh, Leidy^ Cope, and Andreae cannot be 

 doubted, for the proportionately short and wide vertebrae of the 

 anterior abdominal region, with their long transverse processes and 

 double scars for the attachment of the neural arches, as well as the 

 perforation for the notochord, are practically identical with those 

 of the American and European forms ; moreover, most of these 

 peculiarities are likewise to be found in the vertebrae of Amia calva. 



Whatever may be done eventually with the Transatlantic species, 

 I am disposed to refer the British forms to the genus Amia, and in 

 so doing shall be in agreement with Prof. Andreae and Mr. Smith 

 Woodward. 



Amia aitglica, sp. nov. 

 Specimen I. (PI. I, figs. 1-5.) 



The bones found by Mr. Clement Reid in the Bembridge Beds of 

 Hamstead, Isle of Wight, lay all so close together that there is 

 every reason for believing them to be parts of one fish ; they include 

 four vertebrae, a maxilla with its supplementary bone, portions of a 

 dentary bone, of a parasphenoid, of a clavicle, and of other bones. 



Vertebrae. — The four vertebrae are from the anterior part of the 

 column, the prominent transverse processes being high upon the sides 

 of the centra; all these vertebrae are proportionately short and 

 broad ; they are deeply biconcave, and pierced a little above the 

 centre by a small notochordal aperture ; their greatest width is 

 opposite this perforation, and they narrow rapidly below, so that 

 the terminal face is som.ewhat pointed inferiorly. It is uncertain 

 whether these vertebrae form a consecutive series, but when they 

 are so arranged that the vertebrae with the highest lateral processes 

 are in front, then the anterior centrum is the shortest and widest, 

 while the hinder centrum is the longest and narrowest. The third 

 vertebra of the series is the only one that has a perfect transverse 

 process, and this is 9 mm. long, with an expanded distal extremity. 

 Each centrum has the upper surface marked by four depressions, 

 indicating that each neural spine was attached to two vertebrae. 

 The lower surface shows a pair of longitudinal spaces which seem to 

 have borne bony processes. (PI. I, figs. 1-2 a.) 



Measurements of Vertebrae in Millimetres. 



I II III IV 



Length 9 10 10-5 11 



■ Height 23 22 22 22 



Width 29 29 28 27 



Maxilla.— The most perfect bone of the head that is preserved 

 is a left maxilla (PI. I, figs. 3 & 3 a) ; but the teeth are wanting, 



b2 



