IN" THE CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS OF THE EDINBURGH DISTRICT. 697 



Grit are, like those of other parts of Scotland, referred by Mr Kidston, on account of 

 their fossil flora, to the Lower Coal Measures of England. Unfortunately few fish- 

 bearing shales are or have been available to the collector in the rocks in question ; 

 in fact, the only one which has of late yielded such remains is that to which we 

 shall now refer. 



The " Four Foot " Coal at present worked at Niddrie is the lowest but one of the 

 workable seams of the Upper Carboniferous in this neighbourhood, and it so happened 

 that a few years ago an inclined shaft was being driven down along the dip of the seam, 

 and a considerable amount of the roof-shale was brought to the surface. From it were 

 obtained the following fish-remains : — 



Diplodus gibbosus, Ag. - Megalichthys pygmwus, Traq. 



Janassa linguceformis. Rhizodopsis sauroides, Williamson. 



Ctenoptychius apicalis, Ag. Strepsodus sauroides (Binney). 

 Lepracantlms Oolei. „ sulcidens. 



Pleuroplax Rankinei. Codacanthus elegans, Newb. 



Sphenacanthus, tooth. Elonichtliys Aitkeni, Traq. 



Acanthodes Wardi, Egert. Platysomus parvulus, Young. 

 Acanthodopsis Wardi. „ Forsteri. 



Megalichthys Hibberti, Ag*. Cheirodus, sp. 



The difference between this list and those previously given is startling, as not one 

 species found in the Calciferous Sandstone or the Carboniferous Limestone Series is here 

 represented ; but this is a matter to which we shall presently return. 



Smeaton Colliery. — In former times many fish-remains were procured at Smeaton, 

 near Dalkeith, from the roof-shale of a seam which, I understand, was the " Jewell." 

 Unfortunately this colliery has been shut up for more than twenty years, so that no 

 fresh material can be obtained, and the list which I am able to give is rather short. 

 It only comprises the following : — 



Pleuracanthus Icevissimus, Ag. Bhizodopsis sauroides. 



Gyracanthus formosus, Ag. Strepsodus sulcidens. 



Acanthodopsis Wardi. Ccelacanthus elegans. 

 Megalichthys Hibberti. 



If the fish-remains marked " Dalkeith Coal Field," and collected many years ago, 

 which one finds in various museums, including the British Museum and the Edinburgh 

 Museum of Science and Art, came, as is very possible, also from this colliery, then we 

 must add Sphenacanthus hybodoides (Egert.) and Strepsodus sauroides to the list. 

 Sir Philip Egerton indeed gave " the neighbourhood of Dalkeith " as the source of his 

 " Ctenacanthus " hybodoides and nodosus. 



RESULTS. 



The pakeontological record is of necessity imperfect, and our opportunities of 

 collecting even the fossils which have been preserved are also limited by circumstances 



