352 



THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY. Lect. IV. 



Lign. 72, fig. 1 . Osmeroides Mantelli. This figure conveys a correct 

 idea of the general outline of the fossil Salmons, found in the 

 Lewes chalk. 



Lign. 72, fig. 2. Acrognaihus hoops. I have seen but one specimen 

 of this small fish ; the relatively large jaw and eye are indi- 

 cated by the name. The upward bend of the caudal extremity 

 is doubtless accidental. 



Lign. 73, fig. 1. Aulolepis typus. This is likewise an unique spe- 

 cimen of a fish six inches long, having scales of a peculiar 

 character. 



Lign. 74. Dercetis elongatus. Fragments of the elongated sub- 

 cylindrical body of this fish very frequently occur in the chalk 

 of Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire. Examples, two feet and 

 even more in length, are occasionally met with ; and yet but 

 two instances are known, in which any vestiges of the skull, 

 or of the tail, can be traced. In the specimen from which 

 the figure was taken, the parts represented were clearly defined.* 

 The Dercetis had on the sides three rows of dermal scutcheons 

 (like those of the Sturgeon), that extended over the body, and 

 the intervals between them were covered with small scales; 

 in most specimens the latter only remain. 



Lign. 75. Beryx radians. Lign. 76. Beryx Lewesiensis. Several 

 examples of these ancient fishes of the Perch tribe have been 

 found as perfect as in these delineations. Another and more 

 delicate species, with a very small head {Beryx microcephalics), 

 is occasionally obtained from the chalk-marl, exquisitely pre- 

 served. 



In the other subdivisions of the cretaceous formation, 

 remains of fishes occur more or less abundantly in various 

 parts of England, the Continent, and America. One lo- 

 cality only can here be mentioned ; Glaris in Switzerland 

 has long been celebrated for the profusion and variety of 

 its ichthyolites, which occur in a very hard, black, laminated 

 shale. This shale is highly bituminous, and can scarcely 

 be distinguished lithologically from some of the most 



* See Medals of Creation, vol. ii. p. 658. 



