184 Notices of Memoirs — By Prof. C. H. Hitchcock, 



existence is proved in other recent Pentacrini, I must doubt, or rather 

 deny, their existence at all ! ^ On the other hand, I must confess that 

 matters are considerably altered by these highly valuable investiga- 

 tions of Prof. Loven, who, for the first time, supports this theory with 

 strong (perhaps convincing) arguments. It is now no longer a mere 

 hypothetical supposition — hitherto it was in reality no more — but a 

 real scientific explanation, borne out by well-established facts and 

 imdeniable analogies from living forms.^ To Dr. Gray we certainly 

 owe the first intimation of this analogy between Leskia and Cystidea, 

 but while the knowledge of that genus rested on a single examination, 

 there might still linger some doubt whether its importance in this 

 respect had not possibly been overrated. Science, therefore, must 

 be highly indebted to Prof. Loven for his small but valuable memoir, 

 and for the excellent observations laid down in it. The absolute 

 denying of the existence of an apical orifice in that place where, in 

 other Cystidea at least, such an orifice was always believed to 

 exist, is particularly recommended to the attention of future 

 investigators of Cystidea, as bearing upon the very heart of the 

 question. Adhuc sub judice lissit ! 



[Note. — For a very able account of the internal structure and 

 passages in Actinocrinus, Amphoracrinus, CyatJiocrinus, Bhodocrinus, 

 Pentremites, and Codonaster, see Memoir, by John Eofe, Esq., F.G.S., 

 in Geol. Mag., Vol. II. p. 245, Plate VIII. 1865.]— H. W. 



New American Fossil Fish from the Devonian. 



{Communicated by Professor C. H. Hitchcock, of Lafayette College, Geologist to 

 the State of Maine, etc.) 



AT the late meeting of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, Professor J. S. Newberry, LL.D., described 

 a new genus of fossil fishes. The specimens were obtained 'from 

 the Devonian Black shales of Delaware, Ohio, by the Kev. H. 

 Herzer, and named Dinichthys Herzeri, inasmuch as the animal 

 deserved the same distinction among fishes as the Dinotherium and 

 Dinornis among mammals and birds. Most of the bones obtained 

 belong to the head, which was over three feet long by one and a half 

 broad, and wonderfully strong and massive. All parts of the head 

 were represented, and there were several individuals among the 

 specimens. The cranium is composed of a number of plates firmly 

 anchylosed together, and strengthened near the occiput by internal 

 ribs or ridges nearly as large as one's arm. The external surface is 

 covered with a very fine vermicular ornamentation. The most 



^ Prof. Loven told me himself that during his last stay in Paris he succeeded in 

 getting access to the original specimen of Mr. Dushascaing, in the collection of the 

 late Mr. Michelin. It did not show the five valves, because it had no peristome at all ! 



2 To these analogies might be added, that between the valves of C^stideee SLud those 

 of the young (larval) Antedon. 



