INTRODUCTION. 



The present work is intended simply as a descriptive summary 

 of the fish remains known from the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic 

 formations within the limits of the State of New Jersey. A 

 full account of the stratigraphic paleontology of the Cretaceous 

 is given by Dr. Stuart Weller, in his account of these forma- 

 tions, published in volume IV of the Paleontology series of the 

 Geological Survey in 1907. Though no new collections have 

 been made it is hoped that an exposition of the older ones, many 

 of which have not been studied before, will be of value. The one 

 great disadvantage is, as may have been expected, the lack of 

 definite stratigraphic position for each species, the original data 

 usually being incomplete or meager. This was due to the earlier 

 collectors not attaching sufficient importance to preserving exact 

 horizons and localities with their specimens. In many cases Dr. 

 H. B. Kummel, through his familiarity with the local geology, 

 has been able to indicate the horizon from which the specimens 

 came, and all such references to the present classification in the 

 text are on his authority. To avoid confusion such references 

 are inclosed in brackets with the initial K. In some cases com- 

 parison with other material in the collection of the Academy has 

 greatly facilitated determinations, especially in' the case of types 

 or authoritatively determined material. I have attempted to 

 illustrate as well as describe each species, wherever possible, from 

 specimens, though in some cases have been obliged to use the 

 original accounts. This is especially true among the chimaeroids, 

 where I have also allowed reproductions from Dr. Louis Hus- 

 sakof's photographs. The general scheme of classification is that 

 of Dr. David Starr Jordan, sometimes freely used or modified 

 to suit present purposes. 



Dr. O. P. Hay's Catalogue of Fossil Vertebrata of North 

 America, and Dr. A. S. Woodward's Catalogue of Fossil Fishes 

 in the British Museum, have been freely consulted with respect 



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