262 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 



X. Body short and covered with ctenoid scales. Mouth 

 oblique. Jaws with many villiform teeth. Embracing the one 

 genus, Beryx ; family, Berycidx. 



XI. Body somewhate elongate, compressed, and covered with 

 large or medium-sized cycloid scales. Lateral line doubtfully 

 present. Dental bones short and without teeth. Eye lateral. 

 Gill openings large. Dorsal fin often elongated. Embracing 

 the genera Sylsemus, (?) Apsopelix, and (?) Pelecorapis; family, 

 Mugilidte. 



ICHTHYODECTIDJE Crook. 

 Saurodontidce Cope; Saurocephalidce Zittel. 



The family name of Ichthyodectidte as characterized by Doctor 

 Crook 17 embraced the genera Xiphactinus, Ichthyodectes, and 

 Saurodon, and was intended by the author to be used instead of 

 the family name Saurodontidx, as given to this group of fishes 

 by Professor Cope. 18 The reasons given by Doctor Crook for 

 changing the name of this family are that the teeth are not like 

 those of saurians, and that the name Saurodontidx was pre- 

 occupied by a family of ganoid fishes. Concerning this Pro- 

 fessor Cope says : 19 " In the first place, the author [Crook] has 

 not observed that I have on several occasions published the 

 fact that the name Daptinus Cope is a synonym of Saurodon 

 Lea, 20 which was proposed many years previously. It was from 

 this genus that I gave the family name first proposed of Sauro- 

 dontidce. The fact that Professor Zittel many years later gave 

 this name to a very distinct family does not authorize the giving 

 of a new name to the family first called by me, as is done by 

 Mr. Crook." Doctor Crook also removes the genus Sauro- 

 cephalus from this group, and places it in the family Proto- 

 spliyrxnidse (Pachycormidse) , concerning which he says of the 

 maxilla, premaxilla, and dentary which he examined : 21 



"Sie ist so ganzlich verschieden von denjenigen der anderen Glieder 

 dieser Familie, dass dies Merkmal allein geniigt. um Saurocephalus 



17. Paleontographica, 1892, p. 120. 20. Should be Hays. 



18. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. 1870, p. 529. 21. 1. c„ 120. 



19. American Naturalist, vol. XXVI, p. 941. 



