THE GEOLOGIST. 
57 
from a half to one inch or more ia leugth ; they are of a bright glossy 
texture, aud some of them curved and striated. 
It may, indeed it must be, difficult to describe these fossils in a way 
at all satisfactory in a notice of this kind, and would seem to merit a 
fuller description hereafter.* It may, however, be remarked that the first 
of the scales under notice appears of an elongated form, resembling in 
shape a small leaf of about an inch in length by one-sixth or one-fourth 
of an inch wide ; its markings are, however, very singular and 
beautiful. The sketch of it herewith may tend to give some idea of its 
shape, but the general features and minute cellular structure are 
wanting. I am led to suppose that this scale must be classed with the 
Ganoids, although much thinner in its structure than scales of this 
class generally are. Mj reason for this conclusion is that it is not 
serrated at the edges, a distinction which Professor Agassiz makes in 
reference to fish scales of the Placoids. In fact, I find that nearly all 
those which are found in my collection assimilate much more to the 
forms and species of the old red sandstone formation, so far as I have 
been able to trace them in his voluminous work. 
The more my researches into this subject have extended, the more 
incapable I appear to myself to do anything like justice in the elucida- 
tion of the structure of the scales and other remains of these extinct 
fish. In fact, it would appear to me to require more space and time 
than I have already given to the subject, fully to detail any one 
specimen. So convinced do I feel of this fact, that I have almost 
considered it advisable to begin de novo, or relinquish it altogether ; but 
as my remarks, however desultory, may tend to aid some future 
adventurer, and may serve as a pioneer or guide to those who reside 
in the coal districts, I cannot relinquish the attempt ; and, having 
entered on a somewhat new and untrodden path, future discoverers 
will make ample allowance for the difficulties which at present I may 
have to contend with. 
A more definite description, accompanied with woodcuts, will be supplemented 
in a future number. 
u 
