§ 47. 



FISHES OF THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



741 



weeds and soft animal substances. The tail is a good 

 example of the heterocercal type, a restored outline of the 



Lign. 170. — Restored figure of the amblyfterus; a fish peculiar to 

 the carboniferous system: one-sixth the nat. size. 



{By M. Agassiz.) 



a, The upper lobe of the tail, into which the vertebral column is prolonged. 



fish is given in Lign. 170. Four species have been found 

 in nodules of ironstone at Saarbriick, in Lorraine ; and at 

 Newhaven, near Leith. 



Megalichthys. — Of the remarkable group of fishes termed 

 Sauroid, the remains of two genera have been discovered 

 in the strata at Burdie House by Dr. Hibbert, and sub- 

 sequently in several other localities. The Megalichthys is 

 covered with enamelled, smooth, quadrangular scales, very 

 thick, and nearly an inch wide. The head is protected by 

 strong enamelled plates. The large teeth are striated hollow 

 cones. This fish was from three to four feet in length. 



Soloptychius. — This is a genus of gigantic sauroid fishes, 

 some species of which attained a length of thirty feet. The 

 scales are thin and nearly circular, the upper surface 

 corrugated in ridges, and from one to five inches in 

 diameter. The plates covering the head have a shagreen 

 surface with irregular ridges. It has large conical sauroid 

 teeth of great density ; and numerous long slender teeth. 

 3 c2 



