Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles* 545 



established, and the grounds on which the prevalent opinion as to 

 its ichthyic nature rests, having been noticed, the author proceeded 

 to describe in detail the scales which have lately been discovered 

 at Cradley, near Malvern, and which alone were required to remove 

 all doubt as to the affinities of the genus, comparing them with 

 those of Cephalaspis, to some of which they bear a great resemblance ; 

 and he concluded by giving a description of the markings on the 

 surface of the cephalic shield of Pteraspis rostratus. 



2. " On some Remains of Bothriolepis from the Upper Devonian 

 Sandstones of Elgin." By George E. Roberts, Esq. 



Remains of a large Dendrodoid Ccelacanth obtained by the author 

 in Elgin were referred by him to the genus Bothriolepis. These 

 consisted of two large casts of a central head-plate, with portions of 

 the test; a natural cast considered by him to lepresent the parietal, 

 squamosal, scapular, and coracoid bones ; casts of the nasal bones, 

 and teeth of the upper jaw ; together with tooth-like bodies, which 

 were suggested to be teeth originally situated in the posterior 

 region of the mouth. 



The ornament borne upon the head-plate was next described by 

 the author; and, in conclusion, the affinities between the genera 

 Bothriolepis, Asterolepis, Pteraspis, and Cephalaspis were discussed. 



3. " On Missing Sedimentary Formations, from Suspension or 

 Removal of Deposits, — their general relations and importance." By 

 J. J. Bigsby, M.D., F.G.S. 



In this paper the author brought together nearly all the known 

 instances of gaps or blanks in the stratigraphical succession in 

 different countries. Of the two formations which are in apposition 

 through the absence of one or more formations, which thus con- 

 stitutes a blank, Dr. Bigsby applied the term " Roof" to the upper, 

 and " Floor " to the lower. He then described briefly the principal 

 instances, arranging them according to the age of the formation 

 constituting the " Roof," and drawing certain inferences from a 

 consideration of them respecting the influence of Oscillation of 

 Level, Emergence, Denudation, &c, in their production. 



In his concluding observations, Dr. Bigsby observed that these 

 gaps indicate that there always have been areas of dry land, and 

 also showed that they prove the geological record to be, in places, 

 very much obscured, if not entirely obliterated. 



LXXX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



BY C. G. TALMAGE, ESQ. 



T SHOULD have ventured to communicate the contents of this 

 ■*■ paper to the Society at an earlier period, had I not felt some 

 diffidence in saying that I have never been able to see those objects 

 which are so positively declared to exist by persons who may be con- 

 sidered authorities on such matters ; but when the same thing is stated 

 by a gentleman who possesses the great experience and acute vision of 

 Phil. Mag. S. 4. No. 185. Suppl. Vol. 27. 2 N 



