232 



DR. A. SMITH WOODWARD ON 



pair of large dermal lappets (III), widest in front and gradually 

 narrowing backwards, extends along the whole length of the bran- 

 chial region. Another pair of minute simple lappets (II) is well 

 seen just in front of this, and "the mode of staining of the fossil 

 suggests that there is a long and narrow fringe of skin (I) along 

 each side of the rostral region. The vertebral centra are much 

 constricted and smooth, but where broken they seem to exhibit 

 traces of some secondary calcification round the primitive double- 

 cone. Their arches are not distinguishable, but the comparative 

 shortness of the centra in the front part of the caudal region 

 evidently results from diplospondyly. The large pectoral fins are 

 remarkably rounded, slightly longer than wide, and the stout 

 basal cartilages do not extend more than half-way towards the 

 distal margin. The long unjointed proximal radial cartilages are 

 well seen in the left pectoral. The tapering ascending parts of 

 the pectoral arch are crushed backwards. The pelvic fins, which 

 are much longer than wide, are supported in their basal half by 

 very stout radial cartilages ranged along the basipterygium, which 

 is not produced into claspers. The individual represented is 

 therefore female. The two dorsal fins are crushed downwards to 

 the left side of the fossil, and seem to have been nearly equal in 

 size; but the parts projecting beyond the edge of the tail 

 probably represent only their apical halves. The first dorsal, 

 which is rather fragmentary, arises just behind the end of the 

 pelvic fins, while the second must have been completely in advance 

 of the anal. The anal fin is relatively small, short, and rounded, 

 and close to the lower lobe of the much extended caudal fin. The 

 lower lobe of the latter is clearly notched near its distal end. 

 The head, trunk, and fins are completely covered with very fine 

 shagreen. Most of the granules appear to be flat and smooth, 

 but some are pointed, and a few on the back of the trunk between 

 the pectoral fins are both pointed and slightly enlarged and 

 coarsely fluted. 



Affinities. — So far as preserved, there is nothing in the fossil 

 thus described to separate it from the existing genus Crossorhinus, 

 but it is distinguished from all known species* by the simplicity 

 of the dermal lappets fringing the head, and by the relatively 

 large size of the pectoral fins. 



Family PROTOSPINACIM], nov. 



Body depressed, but base of pectoral fins not produced forwards. 

 Vertebral centra well calcified (probably tectospondylic). Radial 

 cartilages of paired fins not extending to the margin ; two dorsal 

 fins on the tail, each with an anterior spine ; anal fin present. 



* Compare C. Tate Regan, P. Z. S. 1908. pp. 354-357, pi. xi. fig. 2, pi. xii. fig. 2 ; 

 also Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. [8] vol. iii. (1909), p. 529. J. Donglas Ogilby & 

 A. R. McCulloch, Jouvn. Roy. Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. xlii. (1908), pp. 269-280, pi. xlii.,- 

 pi. xliii. fig. 1. For skeleton see also W. A. Haswell, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 

 vol. ix. (1884), pp. 92-98, pi. i. figs. 6-8, pi. ii. fig. 13. 



