MR.. J. W. KIEKBY ON rERMIAN FISH AND PLANTS. 7 ( J 



inches ; length of body 3f inches. Greatest width, which is a 

 little in advance of the ventral fin, f inch ; from this point the 

 body contracts gradually to -^ inch. From these measurements 

 it will be seen that this species is an elongated form, the length 

 of body being nearly six times the maximum width. 



The head is an inch in length, and half an inch in breadth. 

 The fins are of moderate size. The pectorals are about -fy- inch 

 in length, and consist apparently of about 20 slender rays, with 

 two short spine-like rays in front. The ventrals, which are com- 

 paratively small, are situated 1-J inch from the snout ; the anal 

 is 2-J- inches from the snout ; and the dorsal is placed midway 

 between the ventrals and the anal, or 1\ inches from the snout. 

 Of the anal and dorsal, the latter is the larger ; but none of the 

 specimens found show either these fins or the ventrals in a condi- 

 tion that permits the rays to be counted. The caudal fin springs 

 from a tail apparently more heterocercal than in P. varians ; it 

 consists of 15 or 16 stout rays, which are margined on each lobe 

 by numerous pointed fulcral scales. 



The scales resemble those of P. varians, except in being longer 

 compared with their breadth. They are arranged in more in- 

 clined dorso-ventral series than in P. varians, and there are about 

 12 in each series ; but the scales are generally so much dislocated 

 and confused as to render their numeration a matter of difficulty. 



The distinguishing feature of this fish is its elongated form ; 

 and, except in being so much longer, it differs little from the pre- 

 ceding speeies. 



From another elongated form of the same genus, P. longissi- 

 mus, Ag\, it differs in having much larger scales, and in their 

 being smooth and unserrated at the margin ; also in the relative 

 position of the dorsal and ventral fins. From P. KabliJcce, another 

 elongate Permian species, described by Dr. Geinitz, it differs in 

 having a much blunter snout and smaller fins, as well as in a 

 less elegant general form. 



I have pleasure in naming this species after my friend the Eev. 

 G. C. Abbs, of Cleadon — Durham's eldest student of geology. 



Examples, chiefly fragments of about half-a-dozen individuals, 

 have occurred in the fish-bed of the Old Quarry at Fulwell. 



