﻿ELONICHTHYS SEM1STRIATUS. 



49 



related to Acrolepis, it differs from that genus in the anterior covered area of the scales 

 being reduced to a very narrow margin ; but from Pyyopterus it is widely separated by 

 the structure of the pectoral fin and the form of the anal — P. Bucklandi of Agassiz being 

 an Elonichthys, and having no special affinity to the Permian genus to which he 

 referred it. 



Palaoniscus Brownii of Jackson, 1 judging from the figure given, seems to belong to 

 this genus, and probably also does P. peltiyerus, of Newberry. 2 The latter was, indeed, 

 first described by Newberry as an Elonichthys? 



As defined above, Elonichthys is pre-eminently a* Carboniferous genus, and well 

 represented in strata of that age in Great Britain and other countries. 



1. Elonichthys semistriatus, Traquair, sp. nov. PI. Ill, figs. 9, 10, 11, 12; PI. IV, 



figs. 1, 2, 3. 



To judge from its remains, unfortunately rather fragmentary, this must have been a 

 Eish of no mean dimensions. The various fragments on which the species is founded may 

 be enumerated as follows : 



No. 1 (PI. IV, fig. 1). The greater part of the body of a Eish, but wanting both head 

 and tail. All the fins, however, are well shown save the caudal. 



Nos. 2 and 3. Two detached fragments of the body, each showing a portion of the 

 head and of the dorsal fin. 



Nos. 4 and 5. Detached tails, No 4 (PI. Ill, fig. 12) being the more perfect. 



No. 6. A fragment of the body, showing the greater part of the dorsal fin. 



Nos. 7 and 8. Portions of shale with dislocated masses of scales. 



Nos. 9 and 10. Two detached heads, compressed vertically, and seen from below ; 

 No. 10 (PI. Ill, figs. 9 and 10) affords also a side view of the posterior part of the head. 



All these specimens are from the " Knowles Ironstone " of Eenton, North Staffordshire. 

 The first nine are in the collection of Mr. John Ward, E.G.S., of Longton ; while No. 10 

 belongs to the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, London. 



Description. — The general form of the body of the Fish and of the fins is shown in 

 specimen No. 1 (PI. IV, fig. 1, reduced 3-), which, had it been obtained entire, would have 

 been a most magnificent Eish. As it is, the huge nodule containing it is broken off in front 

 just before the origin of the pectorals ; while, behind, it is truncated just behind the anal 

 fin and across the tail-pedicle. The body, thus mutilated, measures nine inches in length and 

 four and three quarters in depth just in front of the dorsal. The left pectoral is completely 



1 ' Report on the Albert Coal Mine, New Brunswick,' p. 22, pi. i, fig. 2. 



2 ' Geol. Survey of Ohio, Palaeontology,' vol. i, p. 345, pi. xxxviii, fig. 1. 



3 'Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad.,' 1856, pp. 96—100. 



7 



