i88 S/ieppard : Fish ^ etc. , from Chalk of Lines, and Yorks. 



pieces, but a few were in very excellent condition. In all, 

 remains of eight or ten vertebrae were secured, four of which 

 are practically complete. 



As will be seen from the illustrations (figs. 2 and 3), these 

 are nearh/ circular, and amphicoelous, that is to say, they are 

 hollow on both sides. The}^ average 2J inches in diameter, 

 and three-quarters of an inch in thickn^'ss ; the largest, how- 

 ever, being three inches in diameter. These vertebrae belong 

 to a species of Lamna, a shark, the teeth of which are not 

 uncommon in the same beds, and are known to the quarrymen 

 as ' fossil birds' tongues.' 



In the adjoining Barton pit on the same excursion the 

 members were particularly fortunate in securing quite a number 

 of teeth of Lamna in the marls of the ' Black Band,' a fine 

 specimen being given to us by Mr. J. W. Stather, F.G.S. 

 Other specimens from the same pit were obtained by Mr. 

 T. Stainforth. 



From this quarry Mr. Drake obtained eight small vertebrae 

 (figs. 4 and 5), three being in juxta-position. These belong 

 to an altogether different type of fish, namely, Elopopsis 

 cyassus—A. S. Woodward. Specimens of this form were 

 described by Dr. A. S. Woodward in the ' Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society of London ' for 1894.* Dr. Woodvv'ard's 

 specimen was from Kent. The greater part of a skeleton of 

 the sam.e species was also described by Dr. Woodward in the 

 'Naturalist' for September 1907, p. 306. These specimens 

 are shghtly crushed, and are half an inch in diameter and about 

 the same in thickness. 



From the Upper Chalk at Sewerby (near Bridhngton) in 

 the horizon of the well-known sponge bed, I last summer 

 obtained two small vertebrae which seem to be very similar in 

 size, etc.. to the specimens of Elopopsis crassus just described. 



Dr. A. W. Rowe also records fish remains on this horizon 

 (see ' Proceedings of the Geological Association,' Vol. 18, p. 296). 



Some little time ago I obtained from the marls of the 

 B. plena zone at South Ferriby, the very distinct impression 

 of what appears to be the beak of a Cephalopod, and Dr. 

 G. C. Crick, of the British Museum, agrees with this opinion. 

 Impressions of the beak occur on the sides of the split piece 

 of shale, and at Dr. Crick's request one half has been presented 



* Published 1895, p. 659, plate 43, fig. i. 



Naturalist, 



