56 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



1905. Dictyopyge macrura C. R. Eastman, Ann. Rept. 

 Geol. Surv. N. J. for 1904, p. 99, pi. 13-^ 



A species attaining a total length of about 15cm. Length of 

 head with opercular apparatus somewhat less than the maximum 

 depth of the trunk, and contained nearly five times in the total 

 length of the fish; depth of caudal pedicle less than one-half 

 of that of the abdominal region. Cranial bones externally orna- 

 mented with fine granulations. Pelvic fins arising midway be- 

 tween the pectorals and anal fin ; dorsal at least as high as long, 

 arising slightly in advance of the anal, and nearly as large as the 

 latter ; anal with about 30 rays, and extending almost to the base 

 of the caudal fin. Scales smooth, not serrated. 



This, the type species of the genus, was originally described 

 under the name of Catopterus macrurus, but was afterwards 

 held by Sir Philip Grey Egerton to be excluded from association 

 with the latter genus on account of the following diflferential 

 characters: (i) "the dorsal fin is more strictly opposite to the 

 anal than in Catopterus redHeldi;" and (2) " having a homo- 

 cereal tail, it cannot be comprehended in it." It was pointed out 

 by the elder Redfield, however, who denied that Dictyopyge was 

 entitled to rank as an independent genus, that the type species 

 was in reality no less heterocercal than other Catopteridae, and 

 " with the other common characters the slight difiference in the 

 position of the fins had in his judgment only a si)ecific value.'' 

 The close resemblance between the two genera, Catopterus and 

 Dictyopyge, was also remarked by Newberry, who observes: 

 " The only differences which I can specify between our com- 

 monest species of Catopterus and Dictyopyge are the broader 

 operculum, the narrower scales of the belly, and the less deeply 

 forked tail of the latter." 



This species occurs typically in the Upper Trias of the 

 Virginia Coal field, and its presence has not previously been 

 reported elsewhere. There is, however, in the collection be- 

 longing to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge 

 a single specimen (Cat. No. 2531), labelled as having been de- 

 rived " probably from Middletown, Connecticut," and erroneously 

 referred in the above-cited publication to the type species of 

 Catopterus. Regarded as a young individual of that species, it 

 was figured under that name by the present writer in the Report 



' The original of this plate is here incorrectly assigned to Catopterus. 



