30. 



FISHES OF THE OOLITE. 



529 



extinct genera, and essentially differ, as a whole, from those 

 of the cretaceous epoch. Teeth, scales, dorsal spines, and 

 other remains of species of the genera Lepidotus, Acrodus, 

 Hybodus, Leptolepis, Psammodus, Ceratodus, &c. are 

 abundant in many of the strata.* 



At the base of the Lias, and separating the lowermost 

 shale from the uppermost Triassic bed beneath, there is a 

 layer of coarse detritus, a few inches thick, commonly 

 known as the Bone-bed, from the immense quantities of 



Lign. 120.— Restored figure of the Dapedius of the lias. 

 (One-sixth the natural size. By M. Agassiz.) 



water-worn bones, teeth, and coprolites of fishes, which 

 it contains. It is, in fact, an aggregation of mud, sand, 



* See Medals of Creation, vol. ii. for figures and descriptions. In the 

 British Museum there is an extensive collection of the fossil fishes of the 

 Lias and Oolite, and the scientific and English names are aflixed to each 

 specimen : it only requires the localities to be added to render the 

 arrangement perfect. The eminent naturalist, Charles Konig, Esq., 

 who has so long presided over this noble gallery of organic remains, 

 deserves the highest praise for the admirable manner in which the 

 fossils are displayed and classified. 



