20 
No indications of dorsal fin are to be found in the specimen, and those 
which exist must originate behind a point above the base of the ventral 
fins. The pectoral fins originate further behind the head than is usual. 
The ventrals are well posterior, and close together. 
The skull is transversely fractured at the coronal suture, as I suppose it 
to be, which divides the front, just anterior to the point of attachment of 
the hyomandibular bone. At the antero external angles of the parietals, are 
distinct post-frontal bones of a sub-triangular form, which send a process 
posteriorly from their external angle. The hyomandibular presents a nar- 
row convex external edge, and is directed backwards and downwards. It 
leaves a wide space posterior to the postorbital bones. Of the latter there are 
two, the inferior connected with the front of the orbit by a single wide, 
suborbital bone. The orbits are as much lateral as vertical, and are in 
front of a transverse line dividing the skull equally. The muzzle is 
broad)y rounded, and is covered with rounded plates of ganoine. Several of 
thes8e have median perforations. The opercular apparatus is obscured by 
matrix in the specimens ; a small bone lies on the inferior part of the sus- 
pensorium on both sides, and may be the preoperculum. The top of the 
head behind the muzzle is entirely without ganoine layer in two speci- 
mens; its surface is smooth, or weakly finely ridged. On the other hand, 
the premaxillary, maxillary, mandibular and gular bones are invested 
with perfectly smooth ganoine. 
The pectoral fins are quite wide, and their rays diverge exclusively from 
the inner border, and are very fine. The axial portion is thick and acu- 
minate, and has no fulcra on the external edge, but is covered with quad- 
rate and rhomboidal scales, of very much smaller size than those of the 
body. The axial portion of the ventral fins is not quite so large as that of 
the pectoral. ; 
The scales of the body are quite large and overlap each other by both 
the free edges. Though their form is rhombic, the apex is rounded. The 
surface is gunoid, and entirely smooth. There are five rows between the 
internal bases of the ventral fins, and twelve between the external bases of 
the pectorals. The gulars of the posterior pair are about as long as those 
of the anterior. There are anteriorly one and posteriorly two rows of 
plates between the anterior gulars and the mandible. 
This fish was probably three feet in length. 
Measurements. M. 
Length of head to base of first distinct lateral body scale 
(posterior border of skull damaged)...... advan eialaracess wee 161 
Length to base of pectoral fin........... eee eee ee eee 180 
“« (axial) to canthus oris........... cece eee ee eee 077 
‘of skull to coronal SUtUTG...... 6. cece cee eet eee 067 
f ee ‘* anterior border of orbit.............- 021 
Width we at “9 *s BES <8 era ayeteatas wees .065 
“of front between ‘‘ fe SE) Sha dpayaladaiens «2. -036 
Ef ne at-coronal Sutures ico se scare ce edege wees .029 
