736 DK E. H. TRAQ [J AIR ON 



specimen, had best be left without any attempt to decipher it ; suffice it to say that we 

 have here abundance of stellate tubercles, smaller and more closely set than on the 

 opposite side ; their individuality is, however, in many places obscured by a growth of 

 iron pyrites over their surfaces. And on the tail, as clearly shown in the figure, we have 

 an arrangement of small scutes in longitudinal rows — at least four are shown in the 

 specimen and in the figure — but it must be remembered that on this side of the slab 

 only a small portion of the tail has been uncovered. 



Observations. — Little can be said about the affinities of Gemiindina. The first 

 question which arises is whether or not it may be an Ostracoderm, seeing that the 

 dermal hard parts, especially as seen on the assumed ventral surface, do certainly 

 remind us of the small polygonal plates in Drepanaspis and the polygonal areas on 

 many Psammostean shields, while the general contour of the creature is also suggestive 

 of the Coelolepidse. But the presence of what seems to be the axial portion of a 

 vertebral column, and of other indications of internal skeleton as described above, seems 

 decisively to negative the idea of relationship in that direction. There remain only the 

 Elasmobranchii and the Chimaeroidii to choose from, as it is certainly not a Teleostome. 

 My own feeling — for the idea rests more on feeling than on anything else — is to look upon 

 Gemiindina as being possibly a Chimseroid. It is unfortunate that the specimen is as 

 yet unique, but it is to be hoped that additional material will in time be forthcoming 

 to throw more light on the structure and affinities of this singular creature. 



Hunsruckia problematica, Traq., n. gen. and sp. PI. VI. fig. 3. 

 Undetermined Vertebral Column, Traq., — Proc. Brit. Assoc, Belfast, 1902, p. 263. 



In PI. VI. fig. 3 is represented, natural size, a series of neural arches and spines 

 belonging to the vertebral column of an otherwise unknown fish. 



We first observe a band of pyritous granules, varying from ^ to f inch in depth, 

 lying in the position of the vertebral axis, but not showing any distinct signs of 

 segmentation, and over this is the series of arches and spines, forty-eight in number. The 

 spines are slender, elongated, and fused with the arches below so as to form a series of 

 forked rods, which increase in length from the first, which measures f inch, to the 

 thirty-first, which attains a length of ly 1 ^ inch, after which they again become somewhat 

 shorter. The substance of the arches and spines is granular, as in the calcified cartilage 

 of Pleuracanthus and other Selachii, a circumstance which leads one to suppose that 

 the affinities of the creature to whom this vertebral column belonged were with the 

 Blasmobranchs. 



In my notice of the Gemiinden fishes given to the British Association at Belfast in 

 September 1902 I avoided giving any name to this vertebral column, but since that 

 time I have come to the conclusion that it would be better if it were known by some 

 special designation. I accordingly venture to call it Hunsruckia problematica, the 



