﻿ELONICHTHYS OBLONGUS. 



55 



two scales are exactly similar in the pattern of these ridges ; but, as a rule, if we divide 

 the scale by a diagonal, running from the antero-superior to the postero-inferior angle, 

 the general direction of the striae in the upper half is obliquely downwards and back- 

 wards, more or less parallel with the diagonal ; while those of the lower half are more 

 horizontal and meet the diagonal at an angle. Just below the upper margin one or two 

 ridges may also generally be seen, running parallel with that margin. This arrange- 

 ment of the strite has some amount of resemblance to the pattern of the scales in the 

 well-known Bhabdolepis macropterus of the German Lower Permian strata, though the 

 two Pishes cannot be confounded even generically. 



Observations. — This species, unfortunately known as yet only by a single example, 

 resembles the preceding in most particulars, save the sculpture of the scales, its smaller 

 size, and its less depth of body. Although the great preponderance of the caudal part 

 of the body in this specimen is, as already explained, at least very largely due to post- 

 mortem distortion, I have considered it not unallowable to use this circumstance as a 

 basis for the specific name I have bestowed upon the Fish. 



Geological Position and Locality. — Elonichtkys caitdalis is as yet only known from 

 the Coal-measures of North Staffordshire, where it has occurred in the Knowles Iron- 

 stone of Fenton. 



3. Elonichthys oblongtjs, Traquair, sp. nov. Plate VI, figs. 1 — 2. 



Of this I have also seen only one specimen, which is represented in Plate VI. 



Description. — The specimen is tolerably entire, all the fins being shown, as well as 

 the general form of the head, though the latter is injured on the top about the orbital 

 region. The length from the tip of the snout to the bifurcation of the caudal is 10^ 

 inches ; the fish must originally have been rather longer, as both lobes of the very 

 powerful tail-fin are truncated. The length of the head, measured from its anterior 

 extremity to opposite where the posterior margin of the gill-cover should be (as indicated 

 by the position of the clavicle), is 2^ inches ; to opposite the commencement of the dorsal 

 fin, 4 inches ; of the ventral, 4^ inches ; of the anal, 6f inches ; of the lower lobe of the 

 caudal, 7^ inches. The greatest depth of the body is at the front part of the dorsal fin, 

 where it equals 2f inches ; that of the tail-pedicle is 1 \ inch. The Fish is thus seen to 

 be moderately deep, but clumsy in its proportions, from the great strength of the caudal 

 pedicle. 



Unfortunately very little can be seen of the bones of the head, owing to the tenacity 

 with which a layer of the tough shaly matrix adheres to their surfaces, as well as owing 

 to the great crushing which the specimen has undergone ; it displays, however, the wide 

 gape, and very oblique suspensorium, characteristic of this genus, as of most others of the 



