271 
of Edinburgh , Session 1876 - 77 . 
ironstone, from the lower Carboniferous shales of Wardie, near 
Edinburgh, belonging to the Cement-stone group of the Calciferous 
sandstone series. 
The next species is new, and from a higher horizon. 
Gonatodus macrolepis sp., nov. Traquair. 
Description . — The usual length of examples of this species is 
from four to six or seven inches, hut although a considerable 
number of specimens more or less perfect have occurred in no two 
do the proportional measurement agree, owing to the greater or less 
amount of alteration of form, frequently amounting to positive dis- 
tortion, which they have undergone, apparently both soon after 
death, and also during the consolidation of their ironstone matrix. 
Seldom do the scales, save on the caudal body-prolongation, remain 
in their original relations to each other on any considerable part of 
the body, but are always more or less jumbled up, even though the 
contour of the fish may remain tolerably regular, and the shape 
and structure of more or fewer of the fins be quite intact, As 
remarked in the description of Nematopty chius gracilis , this con- 
dition affects nearly all the small fishes occurring in the Gilmerton 
ironstone. In one example of the present species in my collection, 
the apex of the anal fin appears neatly cut off, and dislocated a 
quarter of an inch forward from the rest of the fin. 
The most perfect specimen in my collection is 6J inches in 
length by If in depth at the ventral fins, and is nearly perfect. 
In no specimens are the bones of the head well shown, these 
being always more or less crushed and broken ; what can be seen 
of them shows that they were conformed essentially as in the pre- 
ceding species, and sculptured much in the same way, though per- 
haps a little more coarsely. The configuration of the teeth is also 
essentially the same, though they appear to be a little more clumsy 
in shape, and not quite so regular in arrangement. But the most 
salient peculiarity of the present species lies in its scales, which 
are considerably larger than in G. punctatus, except on the caudal 
body-prolongation, where they are equally small. Their outer and 
brilliantly-polished surfaces are also devoid of ornament, and might 
indeed be described as completely smooth, only a few delicate 
punctures being discernible by careful examination with the lens ; 
