§ 36. FOSSIL FISHES OF THE CHALK. 345 



not fail to excite deep interest ; and I have often seen the 

 man of fashion, as well as the philosopher, gaze in mute 

 astonishment on these " relics of a former world." 



36. Macropoma. (Lign. 73. Jig. 2.) — A fish, bearing 

 some semblance to the large Carps in its general outline, 

 but essentially differing in its structure, is the most re- 

 markable ichthyolite which my Researches in the chalk 

 quarries around Lewes, have brought to light ;* but it was 

 not till after many years of persevering research that the 

 nature of the original was fully illustrated. This fish when 

 at maturity must have exceeded two feet in length : its 

 skeleton is massy, indicating a powerful frame ; and its thick 

 scales, strong fins, and sharp teeth, show that it was a vora- 

 cious animal, capable of pursuing and overtaking live prey. 

 The head is very large ; being nearly equal to one-fourth the 

 length of the body. The scales are large, and are covered 

 on the exposed surface with pointed elongated cylinders. 

 The opercula are very long, j The rays of the fins are 

 large and rigid, especially those of the anterior dorsal, 

 which are armed on each side with rows of sharp spines. 

 The tail is very large, rounded, and fan-shaped, with 

 strong equal rays, supported by the inferior and superior 

 spinous processes of the caudal vertebras. The form 

 of the jaws and teeth is also remarkable, but my limits 

 will not admit of further details. In every example 

 I have found the remains of what I supposed to be 

 the air-bladder, but which M. Agassiz affirms to be the 

 stomach. It is an oblong cylindrical body, apparently 

 terminating at one end in a cul-de-sac : its surface 



* Fossils of the South Downs. It is described under the name of 

 Amia Lewes lea-sis. The largest specimen therein figured (PI. 38) 

 I presented to Baron Cuvier, and it is now in the museum of the 

 Jardin des Plantes. 



f Whence the name Macropoma; /xaKphs, long, and irwf.La, oper- 

 culum. 



