FOSSIL FISH. 415 



the fins are disposed absolutely in the same manner. The 

 head, however, if it has been well represented, is much smaller, 

 and the jaws appear to be without teeth. The analogy with 

 Holocentrus calcarifer is more than doubtful. As to the Holo- 

 centrus lanceolatus of Volta, the impression is too incomplete 

 to afford any ground for decision ; it may, however, belong to 

 this genus. It is also more than probable that his Holocentrus 

 maculatus belongs to it also ; but, again, this specimen is too 

 imperfect to allow of a positive determination. 



H. macrocephalus, De Blain. There are certainly some 

 relations between this fine and well preserved impression and 

 the Holocentrus sogho^ which exists in the rivers of North 

 America ; but it is equally evident that it should form a distinct 

 species, in consequence of the thickness of its head, the con- 

 vexity of the forehead, and even from the nearly bifurcated 

 form of the tail. 



Scorptena. The impression referred to Scorpcena scrofu, 

 Icht. Ver., is altogether too much defaced for any cautious 

 naturalist to pronounce a positive judgment on its identity. 



Spar us. S. vulgaris, De Blain. ; S. dentex, Icht. Ver. ; 

 and S. sargus, ibid. ; and S. macrophthalmus, ibid. Three 

 impressions, equally well preserved, which M. de Blainville 

 unhesitatingly refers to one and the same species. The head 

 is large, partly covered with scales ; the opercle equally large ; 

 the mouth is furnished with hooked teeth, pretty sharp. The 

 body is very much raised, almost in the proportion of one to 

 two. The vertebral column is nearly straight, and composed 

 of twenty-four vertebrae, with strong spinous apophyses, nine 

 of which are abdominal. It is terminated by a very large and 

 somewhat semilunar caudal fin. The pectoral fins are small, 

 and attached pretty high ; the ventral are nearly sub-abdo- 

 minal ; the dorsal is single, commences immediately behind 

 the nape, and is formed of seventeen rays, nine of which are 

 spinous : the anal has nine rays, the first two or three of which 

 are spinous. Though the disposition of the teeth is pretty 



