FOSSIL FISH. 385 



ing to each kind of locality. But, as we said before, their 

 remains, however altered as to form, or, to speak more cor- 

 rectly, however removed from the consistence of bones pro- 

 perly so called, have suffered little change in the nature of 

 their composition. 



In a zoological point of view, we may say, that a certain 

 number of these fossil remains have belonged to distinct and 

 new genera ; but the majority evidently appertain to all the 

 divisions of the existing ichthyological series. It would appear, 

 however, that the remains of abdominal fishes are generally 

 more abundant than the rest. 



Before we speak of the genera and species to be met with in 

 the fossil state, we shall notice the principal localities which 

 have presented them. 



The first which we shall remark are the ichthyolites of 

 Glaris. The only place in which they are found is about five 

 or six miles to the south-east of Glaris, in the bottom of a small 

 valley, called the Sernft, nearly three-quarters of a mile above 

 the village of Lengi, in a part of the mountains which border 

 this valley, and which has received the name of Plattenberg. 

 The substance which contains them is a black or blackish 

 schistose fissile rock, containing mica in distinct spangles, and 

 limestone, which presents itself in small beds, parallel to the 

 stratification. 



These traces of fish are only parts, more or less complete, 

 of the skeleton. These schists, however, sometimes present 

 the impression of fishes, in scales, fins, and other external 

 forms. Such remains are rare, and are never found, as it 

 would appear, accompanied by shells. 



The rock containing the fossil fish forms one or many banks 

 in a nodulose steatite, in which the valley of Sernft is hol- 

 lowed. This rock is thought to appertain to the transition 

 strata of German geologists. 



Mount Pilate is situated in the canton of Lucerne, a little to 

 the centre of Switzerland : it commences to the west of the 



2 C 



