RHADINICHTHYS HANCOCKI. 147 



Observations. — The condition of the specimen renders its generic determination a 

 matter of great nncertainty, bnt I am inclined to place it in Bhadinkldhys for the 

 following reasons : (1) the apparent elongation of the body, on which, however, little 

 weight can be placed ; (2) the resemblance of the scales, in shape and ornament, to 

 those of the typical Mh. ornatissimus (Agass.) ; (3) the appearance of the broken rays of 

 the root of the pectoral fin. Specifically I have named it as distinct, as I am not 

 acquainted with any other form in which teeth of such large proportional size occur with 

 scales of similar conformation and markings. 



Geological Fosition and Localities. — Upper Carboniferous. The only specimen which 

 I have seen is the type, here figured, which was collected by the late Mr. Ward from 

 the Knowles Ironstone Shale, Longton, Staffordshire, and is now in the British Museum. 

 Mr. Wellburn also mentions it as occurring in the " Better Bed " Coal, Low Moor, 

 Yorkshire. 



10. Rhadinichthys Hancocki, Atthei/, sp. Plate XXXIII, figs. 1, 2. 



Pal^oniscus Hancocki, T. Attlicy. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. [4], vol. xv, 1875, p. 311, 



and in Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumb. and 

 Durham, vol. v, 1877, p. 228. 



EHADiificnTHTS — Wooclwarcl and Sherhorti. Cat. Brit. Foss. Vertebrata, 1890, 



p. 175. 



— — A.S.Woodward. Cat. Foss. Fishes Brit. Mus., pt. ii, 1891, 



p. 469. 



— — E. B. Wellhurn. Proc. Yorks. Geol. and Pol^t. Soc, 1907, 



pp. 168 and 174. 



Specific Characters. — At least two rows of specially high-shaped scales on the flank ; 

 external markings of scales apparently consisting of oblique rugae; ornament of cranial roof- 

 bones consisting of comparatively coarse flattened tubercles which are also irregular in 

 form . 



Description. — Unfortunately, owing to the indifi'erent state of preservation of the 

 specimens, no very satisfactory description can be given of the species, nor can 

 satisfactory drawings be made of its details. 



It is a comparatively slender fish attaining a length of from 3 to 4 inches, and a 

 depth of about \ inch more or less, but here it must be taken into account that all the 

 specimens are to a certain extent deformed. In the least-distorted specimen the length 

 of the head is contained about six times in the total. 



The cranial roof-bones and those of the jaws are covered with proportionately coarse, 



flattened tubercles of irregular form ; the gape is wide, the mandible of medium stoutness. 



Mr. Atthey described the teeth as being " very minute and of two sizes, larger and 



smaller, and closely set in the jaws," but I have not been able to see them in any of the 



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