256 University of California Publications in Geology [Vol. 7 



Genus Myliobatis Cnvier 



24. Myliobatis merriami Jordan and Beal, new species. 



(Text fig. d) 



In the collection of the University of California (no. 19714) 

 is a fine large specimen composed of the three median teeth of 

 a jaw of a species of this genus. These teeth are convex in 

 surface, and curved in outline, the surface marked by longi- 

 tudinal streaks of enamel which do not however roughen the 

 surface. The teeth are one and one-quarter inches in breadth, 

 each tooth five times as broad as long. The root surface is 

 smooth, without the comb-like structures seen in Bhinoptera. 

 The form of the edge of each tooth shows that it was flanked by 

 smaller teeth as in living species of Myliobatis. In Stoasodon 

 (Aetobatis of Midler and Henle) there are no lateral teeth. 



The type is from the Miocene near Oil City. It is named 

 for Dr. John C. Merriam, palaeontologist of the University of 

 California. A few other specimens have been since received from 

 Mr. Morrice. 



As the generic name Myliobatis was first used about 1811 by 

 Geoffroy St. Hilaire, it must have priority over Aetobatus pro- 

 posed by Blainville in 1817. 



As stated elsewhere (American Naturalist) the species de- 

 scribed in Jordan's memoir ("Fossil Fishes of California," p. 

 131) as Merriamella doryssa proves to be a stickleback and 

 should stand as Gasterosteus doryssus. It was later described 

 by Dr. 0. P. Hay, from the same Miocene deposits on the 

 Truckee River, as Gasterosteus, williamsoni leptosomus (Proc. 

 U. S. N. M., xxxii, 1907, p. 271). 



