ME. J. W. DA.VIS ON A NEW SPECIES OE COCCODTJS. 565 



34. On a New Species of Coccodus (C. LindstPvCEmi, Davis). By 

 James W. Davis, Esq., F.L.S., P.G.S. (Read May 21, 1890.) 



[Plate XXII.] 



Whilst on a visit to Stockholm last year my attention was drawn 

 by Professor G. Lindstrom to a small fossil iish from the Hard 

 Chalk of Hakel in Mount Lebanon, which had been presented to the 

 Mnseum of the Academy by the Duke of Leuchtenberg. It is 

 nearly related to Coccodus armatas, Pictet *, and exhibits for the 

 first time an almost complete outline of the body of a member of this 

 genns. It is smaller than the species described by Prof. Pictet, and 

 presents several features which dissociate it specifically from 

 Coccodus armatus. 



The fish is 0-065 m. in length from the tip of the snout to the 

 base of the tail ; its height in front of the dorsal spine is 0'022 m., 

 and rapidly diminishes to the peduncle of the tail; anteriorly the head, 

 triangular in outline, terminates in a pointed snout. Nearly two- 

 thirds of the anterior part of the body is covered with strong osseous 

 plates, the remaining portion being devoid of protection. The 

 impressions of about twenty vertebrae remain ; they were probably 

 cartilaginous, for neither in this specimen, nor in those found 

 previously, is there evidence of bony centra. Strong osseous neural 

 spines with branching neurapophyses extend from the vertebral 

 column, and midway along the dorsal surface support nine inter- 

 neural spines ; the latter are thick towards the distal extremity and 

 afford a broad base of attachment for the rays of the dorsal fin. 

 The dorsal fin extends 0-006 m. ; its anterior ray is 0-006 m. 

 behind the spine, and its posterior ray is separated by a distance of 

 0*010 m. from the base of the caudal. The haemal spines are similar 

 in structure to the neural, and have attached to them strong inter- 

 haemals, apparently broader f than the interneurals, and which 

 support the rays of the anal fin. The latter has its origin immediately 

 behind the bony armature of the head and abdomen, and extends 

 thence half the distance to the tail. The caudal fin is supported by 

 articulated rays, of which ten can be counted supporting the lower 

 half, and probably an equal number constituted the upper half. 

 The rays are 0-01 m. in length. The termination of the vertebral 

 column is dilated to a radiating flattened piece, with which the 

 caudal fin-rays are connected. The median rays of the tail are 

 longer than those above and below, presenting a uniformly convex 

 posterior margin. The pectoral and ventral fins, if such existed, are 

 not preserved. 



* F. J. Pictet. — " Description de quelques Poissons fossiles du Mont Liban," 

 1850, p. 51, pi. ix. fig. 9. 



James W. Davis. — " The Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount Lebanon, in 

 Syria," Trans. Eoy. Dublin Soc. ser. 2, vol iii. 18S7, p. 546, pi. xxx. fig. 1. 



t Eather too weak in the illustration. 



