ART. XXXV.—ON THE GENUS ERISICHTHE. 
By E. D. Cops. 
Erisichthe is a genus of fishes which was described by the writer in 
1873, and subsequently referred to the Saurodontidw. In the Final Report 
of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories,* the typical 
species, H. nitida, was again described, and also figured, so far as the 
material permitted, and the existence of a second species, H. angulata,t 
was pointed out. Subsequent accumulation of material enables me to 
“add to the knowledge of the structure of the genus and to increase the © 
number of known species. 
The £. nitida Cope was originally represented by a few portions of the 
skull; among other pieces, the premaxillary and dentary bones being 
present. The latter element was correctly determined, but the premax- 
illary was called maxillary in my description. A fine specimen of this 
species, obtained the present season from the Niobrara Cretaceous of 
Kansas, by Charles H. Sternberg, includes the greater part of the cra- 
nium. From this and other specimens I discover that the anterior por- 
tion of the skull, probably the ethmoid bone, is produced into a long 
beak, in general form similar to the sword-like snout of the Sword-fishes 
of modern seas. I had already been in receipt of fragments of these 
beaks, associated with loose teeth of the genus Hrisichthe, but it was 
Prot. B. F. Mudge who first pointed out that both belong to one aud 
the same genus.{ The specimen above mentioned includes also the 
maxillary bones, so that their true character is now clear. A remark- 
able feature of the genus is displayed in the mandibles. Each of these 
is compound in the region usually composed of the simple dentary bone. 
It there consists of three parallel elements, an internal and an external 
embracing a median element. The inner bears a band of teeth en brosse 
on its inner and superior aspect, and the external a few teeth of similar 
character on its superior edge. The large lancet. shaped teeth are borne 
by the middle element, excepting some of the largest near the symphysis. 
Two of these on the inner side of the ramus originate in the internal 
bone. The maxillary bone forms the greater part of the arcade of the 
mouth, and has no superior articulation with the facial part of the skull. 
It is attached by a simple sutural articulation with the premaxillary, so 
* Vol. ii, 1875, p. 217, pl. xlviii, figs. 3-8. - 
t Portheus angulatus, Geolog. Survey N. Carolina, by W. C. Kerr, p. 32. 
t Bulletin U. S. Geol. Survey Terrs. 
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