FROM THE OLD RED SANDSTONE OF SHETLAND. 323 



dorsolateral, whereas in Pterichthys and Bothriolepis the reverse is the case, 

 the anterior median dorsal being overlapped by, instead of overlapping, the plate in 

 question.* 



The impression of the exposed surface of the plate shows evidence of a tuberculated 

 sculpture, but this is not sufficiently well preserved to enable us to compare it with 

 that in any other species. 



Three other fragments are undoubtedly asterolepid, and may safely be referred to 

 the same genus and species with the plate described above. 



Fig. 2, PI. I., is recognisable as the anterior part of the left anterior dorso-lateral 

 plate, broken off behind in such a way that the fractured edge shows a backwardly 

 directed point. Most of the bony matter has scaled off, so that the external sculpture 

 is lost. The subjoined text-figure 2 gives the orientation of this fragment, the parts 

 a wanting being, as in text-figure 1, indicated in dotted outline. Here the letter a 

 indicates the marginal area overlapped by the anterior median dorsal plate, but the 

 area along the opposite (lower) margin, overlapped by the anterior ventro-lateral, is 

 gone. 



Fig. 3 shows the distal segment of the pectoral limb, split up longitudinally, the 



Fig. 2. — Outline of a fragment of the left anterior dorso-lateral plate of Asterolepis, the contour being restored in dotted 

 lines. A anterior, B posterior extremity ; a., area overlapped by the anterior median dorsal plate. 



outer surface being adherent to the matrix. The figure shows as much of its configura- 

 tion as could be expressed in any description. 



In fig. 4 we have the articular element of the proximal segment of the pectoral 

 limb. Most of its substance has been lost, and its contour also is not sufficiently 

 perfect to enable us to determine whether it belongs to the right or left limb, or to the 

 dorsal or ventral surface. 



Observations. — That the remains described above belong to the genus Asterolepis 

 of Eichwald there cannot be the remotest doubt, and it is likewise probable that 

 they represent a hitherto undescribed species. However, the scantiness of the material 

 as well as its very fragmentary nature render it impossible to give a satisfactory specific 

 diagnosis, and so, as already remarked, I refrain for the present from giving it a name. 



Locality. — Bressay, near Lerwick, Shetland ; collected by Dr J. S. Flett. 



* See the author's paper on the " Structure and Classification of the Asterolepidae " in Ann. and Mag. Nat. 

 History [6], vol. ii. (1888), pp. 485-503. Also in " Fishes of the Old Red Sandstone," pt. ii. No. 1, Palceontographical 

 Society, 1894. 



