Notice of a Fossil Fish. 



85 



the apex formed by the junction of the two hyoid bones,* and from 

 thence with an abrupt curve are directed rather forward, so as to 

 leave a hollow or depression in front of the symphysis, from which 

 the jaw extends with a gradually increasing curve towards the angle 

 of the mouth. The rami of the lower jaw 3, 3, fig. C, are compressed 

 and rounded externally, internally flat or slightly concave towards the 

 base of the jaws, each limb of which seems to be about one and half 

 inches in depth. The upper margin in which the teeth are inserted 

 is narrow, and rounded transversely. The teeth were fixed to the 

 dentary surface by expanded consolidated bases, and their conical 

 pointed surfaces are incased in a deposit of enamel which encloses 

 them like a sheath from the apex to near the base, where the enam- 

 elled surface is detached from the expanded pedicle of the teeth by 

 a narrow line, fig. e.; the teeth are all hooked or curved inward, the 

 largest measuring from half, to three quarter of an inch in length, 

 being placed in front of the upper jaw, and at the base of the 

 lower. No teeth have as yet been discovered on the palatines 

 or vomer. 



The hyoid bonesf 4, 4, fig. C, approach each other in front at a small 

 straight angle ; they are rounded on their lower and outer surfaces, 

 flattish on the inner, and present a narrow ridge on the upper and 

 outer margins. The rounded margins of these bones are directed ob- 

 liquely downward and inward, and the narrow edges upward and out- 

 ward. The breadth of the hyoid bone is about an inch, the thickness 

 about 6- 10th of an inch. 



The branchial rays| 5,5, fig. C, are given oflF from the inner and lower 

 margins of the hyoid bones. The three first of these rays only, remain 

 on either side, and are flat and deep ; being in breadth about 3-lOths 

 of an inch ; in thickness, 1-lOth ; the first ray on each side is two 

 inches in length, and seems to have been still somewhat larger. 



* Dr. Cantor founded his Batrachian opinion of the fossil on the separation of the rami of 

 the lower jaw at the symphysis ; but this observation we have been unable to confirm. One 

 limb of the jaw was certainly separated from the other, but this wa3 done artificially in 

 attempts to clear the matrix. Clearing this away a little further, it was found that with the 

 matrix a portion of the bone had also been removed on one side of the symphysis, and this 

 seems to have misled Dr. Cantor. 



t Mistaken by Dr. Cantor for the Pterygoids. 



{ Overlooked by Dr. Cantor. 



