of Edinburgh, Session 1876-77. 
427 
1. On New and Little-known Fossil Fishes from the Edinburgh 
District. No. III. By B. H. Traquair, M.D., F.G.S. 
(Read 7th May 1877.) 
Elonichthys ovatus, sp. nov. Traquair. 
Of this I have only seen one specimen, from the limestone of 
Burdiehouse, and preserved in the Edinburgh Museum of Science 
and Art. 
Description . — Allowing for the anterior part of the head, which 
is deficient, the entire length of the specimen to the extreme point 
of the upper lobe of the caudal fin would be about 5-| inches ; the 
greatest depth of the body in front of the dorsal fin is li inch. 
The distance from the origin of the pectoral fin to that of the 
ventral is a little over 1 inch, to opposite the commencement of the 
dorsal 1J inch, to opposite that of the anal 1-| inch, and to opposite 
that of the lower lobe of the caudal nearly 3 inches. The general 
form of the fish is thus remarkably short, deep, and ovoid, and its 
general appearance does not indicate that its peculiar form is due to 
post mortem distortion or change. 
Nothing can be said regarding the osteology of the head, which is 
hopelessly crushed, and its anterior part cut off by the edge of the 
stone. The scales are of moderate size, and ornamented externally, 
like those of E. striolatus , with delicate punctures and oblique 
furrows, the latter mostly observable towards the anterior margins. 
The paired fins are small, the pectorals only equalling f inch in 
length, the ventrals being a little shorter ; the median fins, on the 
other hand, are very largely developed. The dorsal and anal fins 
contain about 35 rays each, as nearly as can be ascertained. The 
former fin is the larger, and is very high and acuminate in front, the 
length of its longest ray being l£ inch, while its base equals 1 inch in 
extent. The anal fin commences opposite the posterior third of the 
dorsal ; it is not so acutely pointed, for while the length of its base 
is, as in the dorsal, 1 inch, that of its longest rays is the 
same ; its posterior margin is also a little more concave. The prin- 
cipal rays of these two fins have their transverse joints rather longer 
than they are broad. As usual, they begin to dichotomise towards 
their extremities ; this process, however, occurs proportionally 
sooner in the shorter rays behind. The caudal is very powerful ; 
