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ART. XII. — Monograph of the Fossil Squalidce of the United States. By Robert 

 W. GiBBES, M. D., of South Carolina. Correspondent of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, &c. 



" When CuviER closed his researches in this department, he had named and described for the guidance 

 of the geologist, ninety-two distinct species of fossil-fish ; nor was it then known that the entire geological 

 scale, from the Upper Tertiary to the Grauwacke inclusive, contained more. Agassiz commenced his 

 labours, and in a period of time little exceeding fourteen years, he has raised the number of species to 

 sixteen hundred. And this number, great as it is, is receiving accessions almost every day." — The Old Red 

 Sandstone, by Hugh Miller. 



" Grandiaque eiFossis mirabitur ossa sepulchris." — Virgil, 1. Georgic. 493. 



My collection of fossils is rich in the teeth of Squalidce, from the Tertiary beds of 

 South Carolina. I say rich, in comparison with the meagreness of the public 

 museums and private cabinets with which I am acquainted. With the aid of the 

 admirable work of Professor Agassiz, " Sur les poissons fossiles,'^ I have been able 

 to identify many of them ; and finding several new forms, I have concluded to 

 attempt their classification and description. Following the minute distinctions of 

 that eminent observer, I had extended my list largely with new species, when a 

 favourable opportunity occurred of submitting my specimens to his inspection. 



With the candor of a conscientious lover of true science, and the kindness and 

 liberality of a mind free from all selfish consideration, he informed me that many of 

 his species had been described from single specimens and the observation of others^- 

 that farther knowledge has induced him to reject several species and to unite others — 

 and that he had formerly considered as forming distinctions, characters not 

 sufficiently fixed to constitute uniform differences. In the present effort for the 

 advancement of American Palaeontology, it becomes me at the threshold to 

 acknowledge the essential aid of the labours of this eminent naturalist^ to whom I am 

 indebted for the ability to arrange this synopsis. With his acknowledgement, 

 " mais c'est aussi la partie la plus difficile de ITcthyologie, celle sur laquelle, de 

 I'aveu meme de tous les naturalistes, Ton possede le moins de renseigmens precis, 

 celle enfin qui, avec le temps, devra recevoir les additions les plus considerables," — I 

 trust that others may be induced to extend what I have commenced. With the 



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