ON THE FOSSIL FISHES OF THE M ANCHESTEH COAL-FIELD. 17 
comparing tlie tliree teetli witli those of tlie Anarrliiclias lupus 
or wolf-fish, it does not seem impossible, as the three kinds of 
teeth of that fish are fully as different in their characters as 
these. 
The condition of the fishes — many of which, especially those 
in the deposit of very black Bass, are perfectly entire, with their 
fins extended and not a scale displaced, except from the pressure 
which the bodies have been subjected to, from the overlying 
strata, when in a soft state — seems to prove that they died on or 
near the places where they are now found, and that they have 
not been brought from a great distance. 
The total absence of mollusca and Crustacea in the strata where 
the specimens are found, appears to indicate that the water from 
which they were deposited was not much fitted for animal life, 
as both shales, above and below the schist where the fossils 
occur, teem with remains of a Cypris and Microconchus. Wher- 
ever these latter occur no entire fishes are to be met with, they 
having doubtless consumed all the edible portions and scattered 
the scales and bones. The analysis of the shale shows that the 
water in which it was deposited was probably of such a delete- 
rious character*, from the quantity of decayed vegetable matter 
it contained, as to prevent the existence of fishes, mollusca or 
Crustacea f, 
* Geologist, vol. i. p. 57. 
t The following is an analysis of tlie very Hack Bass, made by Mr. lolin Dale, 
chemist, of Manchester. 
Bituminous matter . . , , , 16 per cent. 
Oxide of Iron ...... 3 „ 
Silica. ....... 18 ,5 
Alumina . . . . . . _ , 59 ,s 
Water and loss 4 „ 
A trace of oxide of Manganese 
100 
VOL. II,-— NO. XIII, 
