232 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



leave no doubt as to the correctness of the generic identification. 

 The teeth differ so far from the continental specimens as to indi- 

 cate a distinct species. The jaw is furnished, as in the recent 

 Lepidosteus, with teeth of various sizes, the larger ones projecting 

 at intervals, the smaller ones filling the spaces between the princi- 

 pal ones. These teeth are remarkable for their strength and falcate 

 shape. The bases are broad, and as the shafts taper to the apices 

 they incline gently backwards : the result of this arrangement is a 

 most formidable array of prehensile weapons, well adapted to secure 

 the prey of these destructive fish, notwithstanding the obstruction 

 of the ganoid scales with which they were invested. The speci- 

 mens as yet brought to light of this fish are insufficient to show 

 any further details of the species ; it is to be hoped, however, that 

 ere long, the riches of the Christian Malford deposit will be more 

 fully explored. As far as our information extends, the association 

 of forms there found is a natural one. The strong conical grinders 

 of the Lepidotus are fully equal to contend with the shells of the 

 Ammonites and the Mollusca, the sharp bristling teeth of the Lep- 

 tolepis would find a suitable prey in the soft parts of the Belem- 

 nites, while they in their turn would find it difficult to elude the 

 swfft course and murderous jaws of the Aspidorhynchus. 



4. On certain Calcareo-corneous Bodies found in the outer 

 chambers of Ammonites. By H. E. Strickland, M.A., F.G.S. 



a. A portion of the broken shell of an Ammonite, with the calcareo-corneous 

 body in situ, reduced to one-fourth natural size. 



b. The body in (a), of the natural size. 



c. Another similar body of a different species, also of the natural size.^ 



In 1841, Miss Anning, of Lyme Regis, drew my attention to some 

 black-coloured substances which she had occasionally met with in 

 the interior of the Ammonites Bucklandi, and which she considered 

 to indicate the presence of an ink-bag in the animal of the Ammo- 

 nite, corresponding to that of the Sepiidce. From these and other 

 specimens, it appeared to me evident that these substances had 

 constituted, not an ink bag, but a laminar appendage to the animal, 

 adapted to discharge some unascertained function. The specimens 



