314 REV - S. GRAHAM BIRKS 



Anterior portion of skull of Megalichthys hibberti 

 (Wild Collection, Manchester Museum, W.850.) 



Not least in interest among the specimens of Megalichthys 

 in the Manchester Museum is this anterior portion of a skull 

 from the Thin Bed, Fulledge, Burnley. The label indicates 

 that this beautiful example was described by J. Ward, but as 

 I have found no such description a word here may not be out 

 of place. The bone is very well preserved, and though 

 cracked in many places, illustrates, beyond doubt, the fact that 

 the fusion of the bones in this region was complete, and that 

 a compound ethmoidal shield resulted. The punctate nature 

 of the surface of the bone is clearly to be seen, and the small 

 openings probably connected with the mucus system are 

 present in large numbers ; four larger openings arranged in 

 the form of a square appear to have been present, and there 

 are two small depressed areas, one on either posterior lateral 

 border of the bone. 



Palate of Megalichthys, B7* and B8*. (Plate XV., fig. 2, 

 and text-fig. 1.) 



B7* : The inferior aspect of this fossil, previously referred 

 to in this paper, shews some of the bones of the palate, and 

 though further examination may amplify or amend the account 

 given below of this and of the next-mentioned specimen 

 (B8* infra), the following will give some indication of the 

 general disposition of some of the bones of the palate in the 

 genus. B7* is much broken up anteriorly, where the teeth- 

 bearing pre-maxillas can be made out. In a median position, 

 posterior to the pre-maxillse, there appears to be a bone 

 occupying about one-fifth of the width of the roof of the buccal 

 cavity. Posteriorly this bone articulates with the expanded 

 edge of a triangular bony plate which underlies a median 

 tooth-bearing ridge of bone. This ridge tapers towards its 

 anterior end and is somewhat rounded posteriorly. Apparently 

 a broad median bone, of which the anterior margin underlies 

 both the triangular plate and the dentiferous ridge, is present. 

 The posterior portion of this bone, however, projects behind 



