1857-] EGERTON AND BRODIE — PALCEONISCUS SUPERSTES. 165 



and contain few fin-rays, but the anterior edge is bordered with 

 fulcral scales of considerable thickness. The anal fin is situated 

 near the hinder extremity of the body. Ten rays are seen in 

 the specimen (fig. 3), of which the three first are short, pointed, 

 and undivided. The remainder have transverse articulations at 

 distant intervals, and dichotomize towards their extremities. The 

 hinder portion of the fin is deficient. The dorsal fin is placed imme- 

 diately above the anal fin. It contains about a dozen rays. Of these 

 the fulcral rays are more numerous and more elongated than those 

 in advance of the anal fin. In other respects the two fins are very 

 similar. The portion of the tail which is preserved, shows the 

 scales of the dorsal ridge elongating gradually along the upper 

 margin of the pedicle of the tail to form the imbricated border of the 

 upper lobe. Below these the scales of the trunk are visible, becoming 

 more and more attenuated as they ascend upon the upper limb of the 

 organ. The bases of a few of the anterior rays of the lower lobe are 

 fortunately preserved in situ, showing that the appearances above 

 noted are correctly assigned to the caudal region. There is, there- 

 fore, sufficient evidence to prove that the tail of this species was 

 strictly heterocerque. I am further led to believe, from an attentive 

 examination and comparison of the parts preserved, that, were the 

 tail entire, it would be found to be as extreme in its heterocercy as in 

 the Permian and other earlier members of the genus ; and in no wise 

 a transitional form between that and the homocerque character of the 

 Liassic fish. The scales are oblong, the longitudinal axis being 

 rather longer than the vertical measurement. They are covered with 

 a thick and smooth layer of ganoine, without any trace of super- 

 ficial ornamentation or marginal serration. The dorso-ventral series 

 are arranged in gentle curves, imparting an appearance of much 

 elegance to this species. On comparing this with the known species 

 of Palceoniscus, of which there are not less than forty, the remote 

 position of the dorsal fin excludes all but the little Palceoniscus 

 catopterus (PI. XI. fig. 4) from the Permian beds of Roan Hill, in 

 Ireland*. The subject of this description differs from that species 

 in every other character. As it appears to be the last surviving 

 representative of this genus which occupied so important a place in 

 the fauna of the Carboniferous and Permian eras, I have ventured to 

 name it Palceoniscus superstesf. 



Note on the occurrence of a New Species of Fish in the Upper 

 Keuper Sandstone in Warwickshire. By the Rev. P. B. Brodie, 

 M.A., F.G.S. 



Having lately described the Keuper in the neighbourhood of War- 

 wick %, I have but little to add respecting it ; but the recent discovery 

 of a small fish (unfortunately imperfect, though better preserved 



* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. vi. p. 4. 



f I have been unable to obtain any information with reference to a species of 

 Palceoniscus from the Keuper of Coburg, mentioned by Herr von Schauroth, at 

 the scientific congress at Gotha in 1851, under the name of P. arenaceus. 



% Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xiii. p. 574. 



